Senior, as a junior, I am blessed with great fortune, and that's just how it is.

The moment the woman in white finished speaking, the atmosphere in the grand hall shifted abruptly.

The air, previously thick with greed and fervor over the Nascent Soul inheritance, now turned into a bone-chilling cold that shot up from everyone's feet to the crowns of their heads.

"Not good!"

Lin Bufan of the Blazing Sun Holy Land paled and immediately tried to flee, transforming into a streak of light.

But it was already too late.

The woman's stunning eyes didn't even flicker as she simply flicked her sleeve with an elegant motion.

Hum—

An invisible ripple instantly enveloped the entire hall.

"Ah!"

The Foundation Establishment first-layer rogue cultivator who had survived the earlier challenge only had time to let out a single scream before his body exploded into a mist of blood, staining the robes of those nearby.

"How dare you! I’m a named disciple under the Joyful Union Sect’s Elder!"

"Senior, spare me!"

"Fight! Let’s fight her together!"

Panic spread like a plague.

Pleas, roars, and desperate cries intertwined, but it was all futile.

The woman’s expression remained unperturbed, as though she were merely performing a trivial task.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Blooms of blood erupted one after another across the hall, each muffled sound marking the end of another life.

In just a dozen breaths, over a hundred arrogant Foundation Establishment cultivators were slaughtered without exception.

The thick stench of blood filled the air, and the hall fell into an eerie silence.

The woman sighed softly, her voice tinged with melancholy.

"Fortunately, all of you were blinded by greed, overestimating your own strength."

"Always thinking, 'What if?'"

"Always thinking, 'Why not try?'"

"Each of you fought until your spiritual energy was exhausted, making this cleanup rather effortless."

With that, she finally turned her gaze back to Wang San, who had remained unharmed from start to finish.

"Open your mind."

Her voice carried an irresistible authority.

"I shall now pass on my legacy to you."

Wang San shuddered, snapping out of his daze.

Seeing the severed limbs and corpses littering the ground, he felt no fear—only a twisted ecstasy.

The senior killed everyone… just for me!

I truly am destined for greatness!

Without hesitation, he fully opened his sea of consciousness.

The figure of the woman in white suddenly grew ethereal, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight into Wang San’s forehead.

But the expected flood of knowledge never came.

Before Wang San could even voice his confusion, a startled feminine voice echoed in his mind.

"Wait—why is there already someone else in your sea of consciousness?"

"How am I supposed to… pass on my legacy like this?"

Within his mind, a faintly glowing ice-blue herb emanated a chilling aura, firmly shielding Wang San’s soul.

Hearing this, Wang San couldn’t suppress a smirk.

"Senior, this junior is simply blessed by fate."

"This Ten-Thousand-Year Icebloom Grass has formed an equal contract with me, temporarily residing in my sea of consciousness to recuperate."

Of course, he silently added: For now.

Once his cultivation reached greater heights, this worthless weed would be at his mercy.

……

Inside Wang San’s sea of consciousness, the soul of the woman in white stood in a standoff with the Icebloom Grass.

A successful possession required perfect timing—when the target was completely defenseless.

She had assumed a mere Qi Refining cultivator would be easy prey once he opened his mind.

But who could’ve guessed another entity was already squatting in his head?

Under these circumstances, success was impossible.

The Icebloom Grass shimmered, transforming into the illusory form of an elderly man with a flowing white beard, stroking it thoughtfully.

"No need for hostility."

"Fighting here benefits neither of us."

The woman in white scoffed. "I chose him because he carries the essence of vegetation and is favored by destiny. But you—you’re just a half-dead weed! What could you possibly want with him?"

"And if you’re not here to possess him, then what? Your soul is barely holding on as it is."

The Icebloom Grass smiled mysteriously, refusing to answer.

"Fine. Then let’s settle this."

The woman’s voice turned icy. "In all my years of cultivation, I’ve never failed to claim what I desire."

Hearing this, the Icebloom Grass immediately backed down—his aged soul couldn’t handle a fight.

"Wait, wait! Let’s compromise!"

"How about this? I won’t give up San’er’s body, but I can have him find you a suitable vessel elsewhere. Right now, he’s completely under my thumb—he’ll listen to me."

The woman wasn’t fooled.

This old coot conceded too easily—there had to be a trick.

"If you want me to back off, answer one thing."

"What do you see in him?"

After a long hesitation, the Icebloom Grass finally spoke.

"San’er… can perceive the 'Primordial Divine Script.'"

He stroked his beard smugly, as if revealing a masterstroke.

"Hmph. Don’t act innocent. You deliberately placed those two Primordial Divine Script characters at the entrance of your cave abode, didn’t you? All to lure the right 'vessel.'"

The woman in white froze.

After a long pause, she cursed inwardly.

Idiot!

"I’m withdrawing my claim on this body."

She gave up without hesitation. "Find me another one."

Now it was the Icebloom Grass’s turn to be suspicious. "You’d just walk away? This is a body capable of deciphering the Primordial Divine Script! Reading his memories would be like holding the key to a new era…"

He was certain she was scheming something.

To test her, he dropped another bombshell.

"I only awakened after hearing the 'Path of Heaven’s Chosen' had reopened. After much searching, I found 'San’er'—the 'Fated Calamity-Bearer!'"

"The golden age is upon us once more!!"