Inheritance(2/2)

The massive boulder stood before them, its rough gray surface riddled with deep cracks and patches of green moss. Wei Wushang raised a brow, 'It's big, but it doesn't look all that special,' he thought, before diverting his stare to Xu Hanmo.

Xu Hanmo moved to one side of the boulder, extending his free arm and pressed it against the boulder. His muscles tensed and bulged as he slowly pushed the massive rock aside, revealing the dark entrance of a cave hidden behind it.

Without glancing back, Xu Hanmo stepped into the cave. The three of them hesitated for a moment before following him inside.

As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes fell upon a towering figure that matched Xu Hanmo's imposing stature. However, this entity was not composed of flesh and bone but was a fearsome construct of shimmering blue ice.

It had a pair of sharp, elongated claws that looked capable of shredding metal with ease. Icy protrusions jutted aggressively from various parts of its body, and a scorpion-like tail arched menacingly, capable of slaying an elephant with a single strike. In the middle of its chest was a cluster of scarlet gems that pulsed with an eerie, lifelike rhythm.

Xu Hanmo spat out the blood in his mouth before resting his arm on the icy figure. "Don't worry, it won't do anything. For now, at least..." he said, his voice strained.

He then motioned for them to stay where they were while he ventured deeper into the cave, stopping before a stone pedestal. Raising his arm, the diamond pattern on his chest vanished and then reappeared at the center of his palm. It glowed faintly, and in an instant, a wealth of items tumbled out. Hundreds of spirit stones, handful of jade slips, several pills, and a vast assortment of cultivation materials scattered across the ground.

Xu Hanmo rummaged through the pile, pulling out a particular jade slip and a red-colored pill. He glanced at Wei Wushang. "Catch." With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them toward him.

Wei Wushang snatched them out of the air, inspecting the jade slip and pill. "Thank you, Elder." he said flatly.

Xu Hanmo simply grunted in response, not sparing him another glance. His focus was now on the green lotus resting on the pedestal. Placing his hand on it, he channeled his spiritual essence into the lotus. It immediately blazed with a golden pattern, expanding to the size of a dinner table.

Without wasting a moment, Xu Hanmo placed all his belongings into the lotus, which absorbed them effortlessly. The lotus then shrank back to its original form, its color shifting from green to a deep purple. He then placed it back on the pedestal, walked back to the group, and led them out of the cave. Once they were outside, Xu Hanmo pushed the massive rock back into place, sealing the cave.

The bony wings on his back retracted into his flesh as he leaned weakly against the boulder. Blood pooled beneath him, yet an air of authority still clung to him. Xu Hanmo gazed at the trio with a faint smile. "Do you wish to inherit my legacy?" he asked weakly.

The three of them nodded, their expressions solemn.

"Very well," Xu Hanmo's smile widened slightly. "Then you must get stronger, strong enough to defeat that icy golem. Only then will you have some qualifications to inherit my legacy. Don't be foolish and rush to challenge it. You need at least Rank 7 Qi Expansion strength to have a chance. Otherwise, you'll be courting death." He sighed before looking each of them in the eye. "I've fought and struggled for so long... Now it's your turn, youngsters."

"Remember, this world is treacherous. Trust no one, especially those who seem a little too kind. You'll only find regret down that road. You must always believe in yourself, rely on yourself, and no one else. And if you're planning on bringing others here for help, don't. The first thing they'll do is silence you. Lay low, work in silence, suffer in silence. When you've accumulated enough strength, then you can do as you please."

Xu Hanmo's eyes softened, his voice losing its sharp edge. "I have but one favor to ask of you three," he said quietly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "When I die, would you... bury me? Please..."

"We promise," Zhang Mei and Zhang Hao said immediately, their voices heavy with emotion. Wei Wushang, however, remained indifferent with his hands behind his back.

A faint smile touched Xu Hanmo's lips. "Thank you..." His eyes grew distant, his voice almost imperceptible now. "It's getting dark... A little cold too... Yan'er, have you come for me?" A tear slipped down his cheek, his eyes glistening with a fleeting spark of happiness. "I'm happy... really happy..."

With that, his eyes closed, his body slumping against the boulder as his last breath faded into the silence of the night.

After a lifetime of bitter struggles, he could at long last peacefully shut his eyes.

'Finally dead,' Wei Wushang snorted coldly as he moved toward the corpse. His eyes, filled with coldness, stared down at the body.

Suddenly, Wei Wushang felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Zhang Hao beside him, who was also looking at the corpse. "We have gained much from this man," Zhang Hao said firmly, "We must fulfill his last wish."

Zhang Mei stepped forward, her expression resolute. "I too agree. It is our moral duty."

Wei Wushang's gaze flickered as he considered the situation. He had thought about taking the body back to the sect and handing it over to Xu Jiulong's family, hoping for a reward. Even if they didn't reward him, Xu Jiulong being a demonic cultivator might have a bounty on his head. Burying such a treasure was not wise.

However, with this troublesome brother and sister pair here, he knew he couldn't voice such opportunistic thoughts. Both Zhang Hao and Zhang Mei would never agree. So, Wei Wushang could only veil his intentions and say, "Of course, we must honor Elder Xu's dying wish. Would we still be human if we ignored it?"

He then suggested, "However, we should first wash the body in that pond over there. The blood here might attract beasts. After that, we can take turns digging the grave. One of us will dig while the other two meditate to recover their spiritual essence. How does that sound?"

"That sounds reasonable," Zhang Hao and Zhang Mei nodded in agreement.

Wei Wushang nodded, before pointing at his bloodied face. "So, how about you two wash the body first? I'm a bit injured, as you can see..."

Zhang Hao glanced at him with a frown but then dismissively waved his hand. "Fine. We'll take care of it."

Zhang Mei shot Wei Wushang a disapproving look but said nothing as she and her brother struggled to drag the corpse toward the water source. "This is so heavy," she complained.

"Yeah, but we can't just leave it like this," Zhang Hao grunted, adjusting his grip. "It's the least we can do."

Wei Wushang watched them with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He then walked over to the pond and splashed water on his face, washing away the dried blood. Then, moved to a spot in the distance, he settled down in a meditative posture, taking out the jade slip Xu Hanmo had tossed him inside the cave. Fiddling with it, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

'Do you really think you're going to decide what happens to that body? Hehe, it's coming with me, whether you guys like it or not.'