Devouring Heritage, Obtaining the Xuanyuan Sword

Central Lake.

The matter has been settled.

Law enforcers and members of the Foundation gathered at the entrance of the ancient ruins.

They brought excavation and collection equipment.

With bated breath, they watched Qin Luo at the main gate.

He closed his eyes, forming hand seals, and began chanting:

"The heavens are shrouded in chaos, all phenomena return to one."

"By the shores of Central Lake, yin and yang converge."

"Through the mist, the secrets of heaven are revealed."

"Reality and illusion intertwine, the Dao is boundless!"

As the final syllable left his lips, Qin Luo opened his eyes and pointed his right hand toward the ancient ruins, shouting, "Annihilate!"

Boom!

In an instant, a golden light enveloped the entire ruins.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Wail! Wail! Wail!

Screams of agony echoed from within.

Everyone present turned pale, swallowing hard.

Soon, the screams faded.

Qin Luo retracted his hand and looked at the nervous excavators before him, smiling. "The evil spirits have been cleansed."

"Let's move out!"

"Yes!"

Rumble!

With admiration on their faces, the team drove massive machines into the ruins.

To ensure they could bring back the treasures, Jiangcheng had spared no expense.

Of course, the question of who funded this endeavor was another matter.

Qin Luo glanced at a portly man and said with a smile, "Master Qian, we must thank you for your generous contribution."

Qian Hao, who had moved his entire family from the royal city to Jiangcheng seeking Su Muwan's protection, shook his head in flustered humility. "No, no, it's nothing! Just a small sum!"

"If Qin Luo needs it, I'd give him my entire fortune!"

As he spoke, Qian Hao couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Qin Luo.

The more he looked, the more he felt that Qin Luo was the kindred spirit he had been searching for all his life—someone he would even give his life for.

Qin Luo smiled without responding.

His natural charisma and the innate ability to charm the elite (a trait that made any noble feel as though they had met their long-lost confidant, with the effect growing stronger the more amiable he was) had caused Qian Hao and others like him to develop an intense fondness for him.

Su Muwan, standing nearby, poked Qin Luo in the side.

She blinked and whispered, "Qin Luo, did you mess with this guy's head or something?"

Su Muwan vaguely remembered that Qin Luo had once slapped this man.

So why was he being so friendly now?

Qin Luo turned and whispered back, "Miss, his kindness isn't directed at me—it's for you."

"For me?"

"Exactly. The Qian family is being targeted by the Alliance headquarters. They came here seeking protection."

"Helping us replace the Ocean Shark for free was their way of showing goodwill."

Su Muwan nodded in understanding.

So...

She lowered her head expressionlessly, her pupils twitching.

Huh?

Am I going to have to face off against the Alliance again???

Wait, did they ever mention relocating their entire family here?

I thought it was just about protecting that idiot Qian Duoduo!

Ugh, I can't believe this!

...

...

Central Lake Camp.

[Congratulations, Master, for obtaining the "Gluttonous Spirit Devouring Art" (ignores inheritance conditions, forcibly devours inheritances to strengthen oneself).]

"Gluttonous Spirit Devouring Art."

"Perfect timing to test its effects."

Qin Luo, feeling the surge of new knowledge in his mind, reached out and grasped.

Hum!

Dark energy surged.

A small golden figure appeared in Qin Luo's palm.

It was a miniature version of Ancestor Xuanyuan!

The figure, still conscious, realized what Qin Luo intended to do and roared in fury, "You brat!!!"

"How dare you!!!"

The Xuanyuan family's grandfather and grandson were also present, leaning weakly against a wall. When they saw that Ancestor Xuanyuan was still alive, their eyes lit up with joy.

"The Ancestor is alive..."

But in the next moment—

Boom!

Countless black and red threads erupted from Qin Luo's palm, enveloping the Ancestor Xuanyuan's figure. In an instant, the figure was completely devoured.

The Xuanyuan grandfather and grandson: "......??"

Lu Hongshen, now a cripple, no longer carried the arrogance he once had.

He stood to the side, watching Qin Luo's actions, and couldn't help but gulp.

This...

Devouring an inheritance's spiritual projection...

This is the work of a demonic cultivator!

Lu Hongshen's eyes widened in shock. In the Xuantian Realm, cultivation levels were not much different from this world.

The only difference was in terminology.

Here, they were called martial artists.

In the Xuantian Realm, they were referred to as... cultivators.

Among them, there were also evil cultivators and demonic cultivators.

Qin Luo's method of devouring inheritances was clearly that of a demonic cultivator—and a terrifying one at that!

Gasp!

Was my original world always this terrifying?

Why hadn't there been any Return-to-Origin Realm experts back when I first crossed over?

Wait...

Could it be...

Lu Hongshen's expression turned to one of shock. Could the butterfly effect of my return have triggered a spiritual resurgence?!!

As the devouring process concluded, Qin Luo suddenly felt a mysterious call from deep within.

He turned to look at the ancient ruins, as if he now understood what the Xuanyuan Sect's inheritance truly was.

He opened his palm, his gaze sharpening as he shouted, "Sword, come!"

In the next moment, as if the heavens and earth resonated with his call, a low, resonant hum of a sword echoed through the air.

—Hum!

All eyes were drawn to the center of the ancient ruins, where a massive stone statue began to tremble under the sword's hum.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The seals around the statue began to fracture under the vibrations.

Golden light and flames flickered.

Snap!

The statue crumbled and collapsed, but the stone sword it held slowly rose into the air.

As the flames burned away the stone, the sword's true form was revealed.

It shot into the sky, then, to the awe of the onlookers, transformed into a golden streak of light and flew straight toward Qin Luo.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

Qin Luo reached out and firmly grasped the divine sword as it descended.

"The Xuanyuan Sword!!"

The Xuanyuan grandfather and grandson exclaimed in unison.

This was the sacred heirloom of their Xuanyuan Sect!

But...

They looked at the Xuanyuan Sword, now happily humming in Qin Luo's hand.

Their faces turned pale with shock.

They couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

The Xuanyuan Sword, their sect's sacred treasure, was not in the hands of a true Xuanyuan descendant.

Instead, it was... in the hands of an outsider?!

What the hell?!

This is outrageous!!!

"Xuanyuan Sword."

Qin Luo gazed at the sword.

The blade hovered above his palm, surrounded by a faint golden glow. Intricate patterns were faintly visible along its surface.

He could feel the immense power emanating from the sword, a power that seemed to resonate with his very soul, creating a sense of familiarity.

"So the true inheritance of the Xuanyuan Sect is the art of wielding and protecting this sword."

Qin Luo suddenly understood. The Xuanyuan Sect's philosophy was to protect all living beings and defend the world.

Unfortunately, in the martial world where the strong preyed on the weak, the sect had been wiped out after provoking a powerful figure.

But it didn't matter now.

Qin Luo gently gripped the hilt, feeling the sword's pulse.

The blade seemed to respond to his touch, vibrating slightly.

The Xuanyuan grandfather and grandson exchanged complicated looks, murmuring to themselves, "The Xuanyuan Sect's philosophy is to defend all life. If Qin Luo can wield the Xuanyuan Sword, it proves his character is righteous."

"In a way... this is another form of continuing the Xuanyuan Sect's legacy..."

But in the next moment—

Gurgle! Gurgle!

Dark energy surged from Qin Luo's palm, rapidly corroding the Xuanyuan Sword.

In an instant, under the stunned gazes of the Xuanyuan grandfather and grandson, the once-virtuous Xuanyuan Sword transformed into a pitch-black blade.

Qin Luo swung the sword, and black flames arced through the air.

He smirked. "This looks much better."

The Xuanyuan grandfather and grandson exchanged one last look before—

"Ugh—!"

They fainted on the spot.

The Xuanyuan family... was truly finished!