Upheaval In The Lands Of Inheritance

Long Lin; he was the son of the Blackfeather King, he was one of the top 10 rankers at the top of the Blood City Rankings.

Yet now, someone was holding him by the throat in the air. It felt like that figure could take his life away with just a single thought. This mysterious figure was by no means an ascendant.

Even Desolate who was ready to fight had no confidence whatsoever in even scratching one of these two mysterious beings.

The various geniuses present were all incomparably nervous, ignoring them, that grey-robed old man stared at Long Lin with his empty eyes seemingly able to penetrate all of Long Lin's thoughts.

— BOOM! —

An intense energy wave abruptly gushed out as a serene yet overbearing voice drifted from the prisoner's body, "Sir, what is the meaning of this?"

"That voice…!" Everyone's faces stiffened upon realising some previously thought undoable thing happening.

"The Blackfeather King, it must be the Blackfeather King!" Everyone had countless thoughts along these lines as Long Lin's puppeteer body ceased any further struggles instantly to only blankly stare at his captor. The change in demeanour was as astonishing as unexpected.

The grey-robed old man's eyes continued staring at Long Lin; and within Long Lin's eyes, the silhouette of the Blackfeather King suddenly appeared.

"Meaning? I mean to kill all of these rats starting with this very one!" The old man answered as he grasped even more firmly onto Long Lin whom he still hadn't relinquished his hold on. His voice was filled with an archaic inflection, as though after experiencing the vicissitudes of time, he had already forgotten his own identity, had forgotten everything but his duty.

"GOOD!" the Blackfeather King's voice rang out, still with an untroubled and tranquil tone. The grey-robed figure's eyes flashed as he seemed to foresee something.

In that instant, the entirety of the Buried Ridge as well as every experts present in there sank into darkness. They were about to lose consciousness. It was as if nothing existed any longer.

"Impossible" the other mysterious figure uttered in visible disbelief, even her crusty face wrinkled under her shock. This one figure, a grey-robed old woman, seemed to weirdly lose herself in her thoughts immediately afterwards.

Everybody felt as if they were forcefully incarcerated in a dark realm, a dark prison even, about to be cut off from the world. Consequently, a primal fear engulfed the young elites of the Northern regions of the immortal realms.

The Redcloud city rankers were slightly better off but not by much. Even though it wasn't the first time they experienced that feeling of immediate death, it still unfathomably shook them. This time, it was a bit different, especially since that looming sense of death was by no means formless unlike previously. Perhaps it was because there was that all-encompassing darkness that it felt especially profound.

The world of darkness evolved and changed.

In that instant, they seemed to have seen a great world with an endless starry sky. There were countless living stars, innumerable creatures, hundreds of worlds were perpetually rising and falling.

All of this seemed to last for aeons until, at last, a divine cuckoo bird appeared.

The bird gazed into the death of that universe of darkness, in the eyes of each and everyone of them as he made a heaven breaking screech. All the geniuses could not help but bleed from all orifices after this much. Fortunately, the grey-robed old man was the main target or else all of them would have died.

Ji Bolin, blended in the crowd, was beyond shocked. Ever since they entered the Darknorth Immortal Gorge, no one had been able to borrow any external strength yet this 'unique' individual Long Lin could.

Could it be that this Blackfeather King cultivated some great secret art?

The old man faced the full force of that attack and the consequences were immediately visible. The hand which held onto Long Lin's neck had been sliced clean. Yet no blood could be seen dripping from the wound, the severed appendage only withered silently as Long Lin stood upright.

"Let me borrow your body little Lin, don't resist!" the dominant yet flat voice of the Blackfeather King ordered in Long Lin sea of consciousness.

At this moment Long Lin took on his original shape, a silver feathered cuckoo bird. However, under the influence of the puppeteering will of his father, the feathers darkened as many runic letters were carved on each single one of them.

These silvery runes were not of any readable language but the energy that could be felt from them screamed engulf, swallow, devour, absorb, assimilate…

All of the remaining energy from the previously broken blood runes were being drawn from far away and refined in feather-swords. Each sword-feather was made from a specific type of energy, all of order of 10,000 zhang in length; these blattered in the skies.

The only few zhang big flying cuckoo demon that was the possessed Long Lin could only appear infinitely small in comparison yet he was the most resplendent in the skies.

The grey-robed old man and woman's faces changed even more seeing this.

They were once mighty emperors; they were fairly defeated, refined and then ensnared to the formation of the Buried Ridge. These mummified bodies of theirs, meant to protect that realm's rules, were powerful enough to toy with ascendants but not contest against such a powerful immortal king apparition.

Yet before the Blackfeather King could strike, chains of law descended from the skies and broke through his ten thousand feather-swords before trapping Long Lin's body.

"Blackfeather, there is no need for your esteemed self to be that angry over this much. Ho ho ho ho!!!" this whimsical voice belonged to the Netherworld City Lord.

"Impressive. . . For you to be able to sneak past the Darknorth Immortal Gorge formation arrange by an immortal emperor and then past the Buried Ridge formation arrange by another immortal emperor formation grandmaster; admirable even. Nonetheless, please know your limits.'' This time it was the Heavenspan Marquess that interjected.

The response from the Blackfeather King was swift and immediate before Yi Dong could add words of his own,

"I sent my son into this edition of the Immortal Ascension Selection to be tempered in trial and blood, not to be bullied by immortal emperor puppets. I, Blackfeather, demand fairness."

As Blackfeather was fuming, the chains of law that trapped him were being devoured and their energy used as fuel to refine Long Lin's body. The young cuckoo demon's body was improving by leaps and bounds with all of that premium quality energy.

This was when an old voice came out of the nothingness and commanded.

"Forget it, forget it, these little ones pass the trial fairly so just leave it to fate." The mysterious voice sighed.

After that command, the twin mysterious figures soared through the air. One of them, the male, pointed his finger straight at the location radiating the pure aura of kings and emperors. An instant later, his silhouette flickered as he vanished directly. The woman wasn't as flashy as she also vanished.

None in the crowd could see how they departed; their movements were so fast that they couldn't follow them at all.

"Thank you senior for the fair judgement and please forgive this junior's, Long Hao, arrogance for intruding." Still in his true form, Long Lin bowed to the skies, bowed to the mysterious voice. The mysterious voice did not care to respond.

Immediately after, the runes on Long Lin's feathers subsided as these regained their innate silvery colours. Undoubtedly his father's will had left his body.

"The Blackfeather King, his eminence Long Hao. So this is that fellow father! The difference in their temperament is like night and day." Kang Tian muttered under his breath with stars in his eyes, he too longed to be that grandiose and strong one day.

All the others from Redcloud city could only smile at his honesty and talkativeness as they all gave a meaningful side look to Fang Yu.

Fang Yu herself couldn't help but think that having such a reliable father-in-law would not be so bad of a fate but then as she immediately remembered Long Lin wretched manners, she could not help but sweep these impulsive thoughts under the rug.

"That was freaky still!" Kang Tian murmured in a low voice before letting out a relieved breath. But as the sound of his voice faded, he suddenly felt a terrifying pressure boring down on him. Kang Tian's expression turned solemn. After which, he only saw a hand reaching down from the sky, directly lifting him upwards.

Xu Qing who was silent for the most part as well as the barbaric Desolate and Xu Nu were also being abducted.

"Brother Kang, Fellow Daoist Xu…" Ji Bolin's countenance drastically changed. "Senior, please show mercy!"

"Among these ants, the four of you can be considered ones that are not too bad. I will not kill you. You can go on ahead, too." With a toss, the odd quartet directly soared forward, in the direction of the two different auras.

The hand vanished from sight as though it had never once appeared. Such strength caused everyone to shut their mouths instantly, not daring to speak another word. Some were already plotting to pull Long Lin to their side just in case something bad were to happen.

"Let's go." The group of people continued forward, staring at the two different coloured auras that towered up the skies. Even more questions surfaced in the minds of the geniuses: was this where these Emperors had left their inheritances?

Were these two locations, both radiating two completely different auras, left behind by these two puppet emperors?

Or was there a greater-than-emperor being who had left his inheritance in this place and made these two to be their gatekeepers?

How the hell did the Netherworld Prince enter? Or maybe he was already dead?

. . . . . . . . . .

City Lord Banquet.

"That Blackfeather is something Brother Yi, Isn't he from your area? Are the two of you acquaintances?" The Netherworld Marquis, also known as the Netherworld king by his enemies, asked lazily while chugging a glass of wine.

Yi Dong took a few seconds before responding.

"I know his master." A clear and simple answer as always.

"Master? Are they some famous emperor? I doubt anyone else could train such a fearsome character, especially considering his once ordinary bloodline. To imagine that from an ordinary cuckoo demonic beast, he became a peak Demon King character. He is beyond impressive!" Heavenspan couldn't help but acknowledge.

"I doubt his master is even a tenth as strong as him. But in truth, I suppose they are more siblings than master and disciple. Blackfeather is in fact the first disciple of an immortal king that goes by Witch Ling and resides in my Redcloud city. Would have been able to guess this; he became a Demon King before she even became an immortal." This was all Yi Dong had to say to their praise.

"Really? Ho Ho Ho Ho!!! No wonder master was that lenient on him" The Netherworld Marquis exclaimed as he thought of the bearer of that mysterious voice, The Netherworld Emperor.

"Impossible!!!" The Heavenspan city lord finally heard more than she could believe.

Indeed Witch Ling and Blackfeather were sworn siblings despite their public master and disciple relationship; that fool Long Lin did not even fathom how strong of a character his father truly was.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Buried Ridge, Inheritance Grounds

The crowd came to face the two locations.

On the left was a cavern that radiated a grey aura, akin to coldness, killing intent, and unbridled tyranny capable of destroying everything.

On the right was a cavern that radiated a pure and untainted golden-colored aura, akin to that of kings and emperors.

When they reached the centre, the geniuses couldn't help but hesitate. Which direction should they choose?

"Which directions do you all want to choose?" Ji Bolin asked.

Everybody took their time to assess the situation and not tread in carelessly. These two caverns of inheritance, which one was fated to them!

"I wish to visit both. I don't have a preference. I'll follow your lead." Fang Yu answered first.

"I'll check the golden cavern first and if possible the other one too. I think I can make good use of that aura of King and Emperors if I am able to seal and steal some." Cao Zhan then followed.

Di Yan, previously lost in his thoughts, looked at Xi Wenling before responding too, "We'll head in the grey cavern first."

It would seem that these two experienced quite a few adventures during the trial and Di Yan took upon himself to protect her. This lunatic would never go back on vows he made, Xi Wenling bought herself some fearsome guardian.

"I'll accompany fellow Daoist Di and Xi to check the grey cavern first." Han Youdi plainly said.

"I'll join fellow Daoist Fang and fellow Daoist Cao then. The three of us shall head to the golden cavern while the three of you head to the grey cavern." Ji Bolin paused before expanding, "I'll be in your care then Daoist Fang and Daoist Cao, I am only a 7th level ascendant so please be lenient on me."

The two acquaintances looked at each other before Cao Zhan replied politely, "You can call me Brother Cao you know! I am sure you will not need our help. The fact that you are here speaks volume of your strength."

"You can call me Sister Fang too." Fang Yu said

"Then please call me Brother Ji. Let's go then?" Ji Bolin suggested.

Everybody dispersed and the two groups of three went in their respective separate way.

Ji Bolin, Fang Yu and Cao Zhan entered the golden cavern. This cavern seemed to be formed naturally by the heavens, while the aura that currently radiated forth was created at a later time. On the ground, bones and skeletons laid all around, causing nervousness to set in the hearts of the trio. Those from the crowd who also chose this cavern were no better off. It seemed like it wouldn't be so easy to enter this place. The possibility of life-threatening danger was more and more obvious.

Inside the cavern were eight roads, the entrance road divided into these eight directions that led into a Supreme Ancient Altar. The trio wanted to see what each path was like but some fool tried to stop them. In truth, Cao Zhan and Fang Yu were not the real targets but rather those of lower cultivation realms were.

"You all, move to the back!"

Sure enough, there were a few people blocking the path from the other routes as well. They all wore silver precious clothes, all of them exuding intimidating cold energy. Their little gang were from the Heavenspan City and embolden by Desolate being chosen by the emperor puppet, they were acting far too domineeringly.

They were targeting all those below the 9th floor of the celestial phenomenon realm, not allowing them to be at the front, demanding that they enter last.

"What right do you have to do this? You all cowered behind when our senior brother was there yet now dare to bully us here. This is going too far!" There was a girl here who was so angry she was about to cry.

"Our right comes from us, Heavenspan rankers, being stronger and thus carrying out the law in heaven's place. We have the right to rule you all, and we demand that all of you lowly blood move to the back!" Someone coldly said.

The trio watched from afar and as they landed on a specific path, mysterious information poured inside their brain. This path contained an ancient inheritance — Phantom Drake Valley.

"This… I know of some legends due to my time wandering as a loose astral cultivator. This Phantom Drake Valley is probably a great sect whose name shook the immortal realms long ago, one that had dominated many areas." murmured Cao Zhan to his two companions.

The trio couldn't help but sigh. Even powerful existences and superpowers could be targeted, monitored, and suppressed in the boundless immortal realms. This Phantom Drake Valley most likely had a shocking background after all, even more formidable than they could imagine, more ancient than many immortals.

They were inwardly shaken.

Perhaps only the great Ancient Emperors with their deep strength and long histories had the power to do this. One of these ancient freaks butchered eight immortal-emperor ranked powers and used their treasure troves as a meagre side inheritance for the next generation.

Ji Bolin was the first to break away from the trio's contemplation.

"Carrying out the law of the heavens with the authority to pass adjudication. Let me test those heavenly duties of yours then!" Ji Bolin laughed coldly. These idiots were not even immortal yet and still dare to brag this much, this type of tone was still too egotistical.

The trio had visited the other paths, and they were all like this, with several high profile groups of rankers blocking the way.

In fact, Ji Bolin too was still not even an 8th level ascendant and thus pretty much a target in their eyes. Even the unfettered Bolin could not let such humiliation slide.

The trio had previously seen that in the last path was even a group of people who were related to the Netherworld Prince standing guard, most probably from his order.

Of course, the Netherworld Prince had never appeared himself on that path, because he had most likely deemed that there were greater opportunities ahead and felt no need to compete for the Eight Path Treasure Troves. He ordered this purely because he had his followers free since they could not follow him.

In truth, the Netherworld prince could be seen on the Supreme Ancient Altar from very far away.

"Dao brothers, we should work together to find that person." This group of people were still considering as they spoke to the surrounding people.

"The Netherworld Prince as well as Xu Nu are already on the Supreme Ancient Altar comprehending some obscure great art. They have ordered that to protect these eight treasure troves as well as the inheritance, the weak whose strength are not up to a certain standard must be eliminated."

When this sentence was spoken, Ji Bolin's eyes became even colder, killing intent pervading the air and leaking his whereabouts.

Eight directions, eight paths, but all of them had people guarding them, targeting rankers whose strength did not satisfy the Netherworld Prince degree.

The trio looked at them. These people all held secret mirrors, able to illuminate any ascendant and create symbols on their foreheads which correspond to their cultivation realm. This was difficult to avoid.

"Then I'll just unleash a slaughter!" Ji Bolin coldly said.

Since such a great disturbance was stirred up and things were going to happen like this, there was no way he was going to stop here. Cao Zhan behind him already had his astral soul out, a giant hammer formation was also being crafted by him.

Cao Zhan too had no fear towards those people in this Imperial Cavern. He may not be the strongest but when push came to shove, he was a fearsome character. Even if an immortal came, they still had to prostrate before him. The only thing he was worried about was possible vendetta outside the Darknorth Immortal Gorge.

It was a ruthless immortal imperial law that experts of the outside world couldn't avenge death that occurred within this Immortal Ascension selection but were experts like the Blackfeather King that reasonable?

Once the events here concluded, ten thousand supreme experts would automatically be sent the news of their descendants, disciples and/or pupils death. Many would swear vengeance, many may not outright act upon it but they still wouldn't stop at nothing to pursue their protegee's killers like a certain Violet Emperor.

Though the thought of joining the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty and spending his days venturing into the many vast uninhabited areas of the Azure Immortal realms immediately calmed him. Cao Zhan knew that at that time, he didn't have to worry any longer.

"Brother Cao, Sister Fang! There is no need for the both of you to antagonise the Netherworld City rankers. I'll bear that burden alone." Ji Bolin had already came to a firm resolution that he was going to fiercely take action here!

The young hero, Ji Bolin, was once more showing the world his fangs.

At this moment, even more geniuses from the outside world came in as well. Only, they dare not get close. Down on the various paths they all watched from a distance, staring at the altar that was as large as a celestial mountain which no mortal could ever climb upon even after spending several lifetimes trying to so.

"Bathing in Supreme Being Liquid?!" Someone cried out in alarm.

This was definitely a scarce precious liquid, its effects astonishing, able to nurture the 'body' and strengthen the 'will'. It left everyone envious, only, they couldn't obtain it. Only those on the altar had the right to enjoy the liquid but only by trekking one of the eight paths could they step onto the altar.

That altar was too mysterious. It was too difficult to reach the highest point and nearly impossible to obtain one of these giant stone bowls that housed the precious liquid.

Quite a few people, for improving their strength, forgot themselves. They all came here to try, but in the end, they all failed, unable to obtain it — their dead bodies stood as warning near the cavern entrance.

Only the Netherworld Prince by unknown means as well as Xu Nu with the help of the emperor puppet were able to sit onto the altar and enjoy a bowl of Supreme Being Liquid each.

"Damn, what happened?"

The various new elites that came to the Phantom Drake Valley path to watch were all shocked. Their route had became resplendent with symbols, the energy fluctuations terrifying. A great decisive battle was being carried out.

"What a team of fearsome fellows! They even dare to fight onto that heavenly path" Everyone became stupefied.

Those at the other paths might not be aware, but they were directly facing this path, so they clearly saw a beam of light surge into the sky, forming a massive hammer. Immediately afterwards, screech from tens of demonic birds could be heard as well as the thunder that accompanied lightning.

It was incomparably resplendent.

Meanwhile, back on that path, the riot intensified. Many people were shouting, currently fleeing intensely.

That path poured lightning tribulations onto everyone who dared to trek on it. The more strength these geniuses deployed to defend themselves, the more powerful the lightning tribulation would become. After each wave of successfully defended tribulation, rewards would be bestowed.

One could only imagine the mayhem caused by the Redcloud City trio blasting out fully powered innate techniques at their enemies.

Ji Bolin had fused with his five astral souls, he was now a Calamitous Macaque wielding a golden staff. As he unleashed his might, lightning rained down the skies aiming to destroy him but ignored them. He was fully focused on dealing with his bullies.

With each lightning strike, his body would crack but an undying force would forcefully hold his body together. After a few lightning strikes, the unthinkable happened — Ji Bolin had brilliantly hijacked the lightning tribulation.

Tendrils of lightning from the path skies went into Ji Bolin's calamitous macaque-like body; one at first, then two, then ten, then a hundred. Ji Bolin was charging up a massive strike of calamitous divine punishment.

As the young hero was preparing to end the lives of so many contestants at once, Cao Zhan and Fang Yu were busy offering him protection.

Cao Zhan would strike lightning and enemies alike. With each of his hammer strikes, a miniature formation would be created and seal what he struck. Lightning bolts raining down from that path's clouds of tribulations would be sealed by chains of runes whilst his prey would have their yuanfus sealed by means of a small runic formation. These same experts without access to their astral energy and astral souls could only accept their fate of being burnt to a crisp by lightning descending from the skies.

Fang Yu was a little farther than the two boys. She had manifested a weird crescent shape flute astral soul and as she played a tune with it, dozens of her avian demonic beasts were strengthened. In truth, they were burning their bloodline power to increase their strength under her soul controlling tune. They would undoubtedly die from this much but Fang Yu could care less. She can always enslave more of these demonic ascendants. Some demonic beasts used their body to shield her as lightning rained down whilst others slaughtered through the various enemies.

These three had already killed a number of the elites. The strength of top rankers from the various cities were nothing short of incredible, especially after they learnt a variety of innate arts from the Gorge. This statement held even more truth for those from the Redcoud City, Netherworld City and Heavenspan city.

"Heavenspan City people encountered them, carrying out a great battle as a result! Then the Netherworld rankers also hopped in." some random expert in the crowd exclaimed as a massive staff of Calamitous Divine Punishment headed down the heavens.

Soon after, bloody figures rushed out to flee towards other directions, leaving everyone shaken.

"Heavenspan second rate ranker were predictably slaughtered but the Netherworld City people were also defeated, fleeing individually. Quite a few of them were killed!" another expert near the last one said.

"What a powerful line-up of three, unexpectedly truly daring to take action, immediately killing a large amount of people. They even dared to offend the unfathomable Netherworld Prince." Everyone was greatly shaken up as the expert continued.

As for the areas near that path, many supreme experts were even more dumbstruck, feeling deeply shocked. This was especially true of the Beiming cousins.

At that instant, the slumbering Netherworld Prince awakened atop the ancient altar for a brief instant,

"Three youths, like barbaric heroes, unexcelled in the world. Interesting. . ."

The Netherworld Prince's eyes only open for a brief instant before closing but everyone present in that cave could not help but shiver. The ones most attune with their instincts had already somewhat guessed the unthinkable; he was plotting to slaughter them all, that callous killing intent was far too real.

The Netherworld Prince, The Netherworld King, The Netherworld Emperor - could it be!!!