Third Son, think it over carefully.

Su Jiu felt the spiritual energy surging like a tidal wave within her body. She forcibly restrained the aura of Foundation Establishment perfection within herself. Lowering her gaze, she looked at Su Ji.

The guy was staring back at her with a weak yet somewhat smug expression, as if saying, "Told you it would work."

A complicated mix of emotions welled up in Su Jiu’s heart—embarrassment, irritation, and even a trace of gratitude she refused to acknowledge. She turned her face away and snorted coldly.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and meditate to recover."

"Got it."

Su Ji obediently closed his eyes, putting on the appearance of someone fully focused on recuperation.

...

Meanwhile, on the arena.

The clamor and clashes were nearing their end. Most cultivators had already withdrawn, either dejected or severely injured, their faces filled with defeat.

All attention was now fixed on the final arena—the one that represented the "Heavenly Pride."

There, light and shadow intertwined as biting cold clashed violently with sword glares. A blood-soaked but still overwhelmingly powerful "Heavenly Pride" phantom was locked in fierce combat with another figure.

And that figure—no one could have guessed—was none other than Wang San!

At this moment, Wang San was in a pitiful state. His Daoist robes were in tatters, and only the layers of ice armor formed by the Bluefrost Grass coiled around his body barely withstood the phantom’s relentless onslaught.

Though the Heavenly Pride phantom was only at Qi Refining fifth layer, its sword techniques were exquisite, and its mastery of spiritual energy far surpassed Wang San’s amateurish skills.

Thud!

A momentary lapse in concentration cost Wang San dearly—the phantom’s sword struck his chest, shattering the ice armor and sending him flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth.

"Worthless! Focus! Use what I taught you!"

The furious voice of the Bluefrost Grass echoed in his mind.

Wang San struggled to his feet, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. He didn’t have time to question why the grass’s tone sounded different from usual.

He knew that if he dragged this out any longer, defeat was inevitable.

He couldn’t let the opportunity of an Elder’s legacy slip through his fingers!

"All or nothing!"

With a roar, he channeled every last drop of his spiritual energy into the Bluefrost Grass.

A brilliant azure light erupted from the grass, and an extreme cold burst forth, freezing the very air around him.

The Heavenly Pride phantom’s movements froze for an instant.

Now!

Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Wang San unleashed his strongest attack. His body blurred into an afterimage as he drove his fist straight into the phantom’s chest.

Crack!

The phantom shattered in disbelief, dissolving into countless motes of light.

He won.

Wang San won!

"Seriously?"

"He… actually won?"

"That Heavenly Pride phantom seemed weak. I could’ve beaten it too—this isn’t fair."

"It is unfair. That guy’s only at Qi Refining fifth layer. With so little spiritual energy, even a Heavenly Pride wouldn’t have many techniques to use!"

Panting heavily, Wang San stood unsteadily at the center of the arena, battered but basking in the attention of over a hundred pairs of eyes fixed on him.

Shock. Envy. Disbelief.

He, Wang San, was the chosen one!

He was the protagonist of this world!

Just as he reveled in the spotlight, an ethereal woman’s voice, laced with amusement, rang out once more.

"Not bad."

"Defeating a Heavenly Pride of the same realm at Qi Refining fifth layer."

"Though you relied on tricks, it’s still commendable."

As the words faded, light and shadow swirled in the void above the hall, coalescing into the figure of a female cultivator clad in pristine white robes.

Her posture was graceful, her beauty peerless, yet she exuded an otherworldly detachment.

Her mere presence pressed down on the souls of every cultivator present.

Wang San’s heart pounded wildly.

An Elder!

It was her!

The woman’s fathomless eyes settled on Wang San.

A man…

And his cultivation was so low.

Not even Foundation Establishment.

A far cry from the perfect vessel she had envisioned.

But there was no choice.

Her time was running out.

This remnant of her soul was on the verge of dissipating.

This boy carried great fortune, and he even had a ten-thousand-year-old plant spirit protecting him—something even she couldn’t fully discern.

He would have to do.

"Congratulations. You’ve passed my trial."

Her voice was calm, yet it carried clearly to every ear.

"Are you prepared to inherit my legacy?"

Wang San trembled with excitement. Suppressing his ecstasy, he forced what he believed to be a dignified, masterful smile, the corners of his lips quirking up.

"Bring it on!"

"I’m ready!"

In a corner, Su Ji slowly opened his eyes.

Watching Wang San’s smug, twisted grin—as if he already ruled the world—only one thought crossed his mind.

What a dumbass.

...

"I’m ready!"

The woman, however, showed no reaction to his declaration. Instead, her gaze shifted away from Wang San, sweeping over the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators present.

She sighed faintly, her red lips parting.

Then, with a casual flick of her sleeve—

Every cultivator felt the air around them solidify. Their spiritual energy churned sluggishly, as if weighed down by an invisible force.

Squelch!

Among the crowd, a Foundation Establishment first-layer rogue cultivator—one who had barely survived his earlier defeat on the arena—didn’t even have time to scream before his body dissolved into a pool of blood, splattering the ground.

The treasured cultivation manual he had hidden in his robes fell into the gore alongside his tattered clothes.

The abrupt horror plunged the hall into dead silence.

Lin Bufan of the Blazing Sun Sect was the first to react, his voice shrill with terror.

"Fuck! This bitch plans to slaughter us all!"

Wang San’s triumphant grin froze. He took a wary step back, putting distance between himself and the white-robed woman.

She didn’t so much as glance at Lin Bufan.

Her focus returned to Wang San, her tone almost coaxing.

"San’er, think carefully."

"You’re only at Qi Refining fifth layer. If I don’t eliminate them all, do you truly believe you can walk out of here safely with my inheritance?"

Her words were soft, yet they struck Wang San like a hammer to the chest.

"I will not allow my legacy to end in such a farcical manner."

"I am clearing the path for you."

Three simple sentences shattered Wang San’s flicker of wariness.

She was right!

The fault wasn’t in the treasure, but in the one who carried it.

At his current level, if word spread that he had obtained an Elder’s legacy, he wouldn’t even make it out of this cave alive…

This senior was removing all obstacles for him!

She truly had high hopes for him!

Realization dawned. Wang San’s caution melted into fervent gratitude. Without hesitation, he strode toward the woman.

"My deepest thanks, Senior!"

A faint smile of satisfaction finally graced the woman’s lips.

"Mmm."

"You’ll have more to thank me for later."