Unworthy Successor

Unworthy Successor...

In response to Qin Wentian's sudden pause, a collective frown rippled through those trailing him.

From Zhu Sha's brow sprouted a dark aura as he frostily inquired, "What's the hold-up?"

"The complexity of this formation demands a thorough study. Naturally, time's a prerequisite," Qin Wentian retorted, his words a deft retort that earned a snort from Zhu Sha. A glint of frostiness lingered in his gaze as it locked onto Qin Wentian.

Once this ordeal concluded, Zhu Sha swore he'd reckon with Qin Wentian, teaching him the hard way that even a skilled Divine Inscriptionist wasn't invincible. Such arrogance – a mere Divine Inscriptionist openly defiant before him – grated on Zhu Sha's sensibilities. Qin Wentian, it seemed, had yet to embrace the concept of mortality.

Of course, Qin Wentian was no stranger to the kill-minded intent lurking in Zhu Sha's heart. Presenting an image of feigned innocence, he sealed his eyes, losing himself in contemplation. Those trailing him had no choice but to bide their time.

Eventually, Qin Wentian unsealed his eyes, directing his words to Bailu Jing and Bailu Yi, "Brother Jing, both of you, place your palms on those marked spots."

With a wave of his hand, an Astral Light beam streaked forth, illuminating two designated points on the barrier.

"Right," agreed Bailu Jing and Bailu Yi in unison, stepping forward to comply.

"Wait just a minute," Zhu Sha intervened, a flash of suspicion coloring his features. "Why them?"

"It's a trial run, and potential danger lingers. Of course, if you're so inclined, I'd be thrilled to have you volunteer," Qin Wentian quipped with a smile, his words a deft sting that sliced into Zhu Sha's composure. This brat, he noted, teemed with guile. Having successfully ensnared them earlier, he now solicited their help, subsequently heeding their 'advice' to exit the initial formation alongside the White Deer Institute attendees.

Was this a ploy of reverse psychology? A scheme to bait Zhu Sha and his companions into revealing their cards? By enlisting Bailu Jing and Bailu Yi's help initially, Qin Wentian might be maneuvering Zhu Sha and the rest into a decisive move.

"Let them lead," Yang Fan ordered, the intrigue shining in his eyes as he studied Qin Wentian. He relished the prospect of unraveling whatever scheme the clever youth had concocted. Should the Bailu siblings triumph over this challenge, Zhu Sha wouldn't be left behind.

Zhu Sha and a Star-Seizing Manor cohort nodded, shadowing the Bailu siblings closely. Trusting Qin Wentian implicitly, the siblings aligned their palms as instructed. In a heartbeat, the ethereal barrier materialized, coalescing into twin doors that swallowed the siblings whole.

A puzzled exclamation slipped from Zhu Sha as he and his companion rushed to mimic the Bailu siblings. This time, however, an ominous aura engulfed them instead.

"Careful," Qin Wentian moseyed over, though his caution was belated. Unwittingly, Zhu Sha and his companion drew away from the malevolent energy that swirled around them.

"Break!" Zhu Sha bellowed, unleashing twin palm strikes. A fierce collision with the ominous aura ensued, dissipating the energy. Yet, his palms bore the price – grievous injuries marred both appendages.

"Senior moved too swiftly. My apologies for not warning you in time," Qin Wentian offered with a serene smile, closing in with Old First by his side.

Zhu Sha's trembling hands and venomous eyes were the very embodiment of his fury.

Warn them too late? What a convenient excuse, it reeked of deception.

His comrade, however, had fared worse. Both arms lay mutilated, their ruinous state a testament to their endeavor.

Yang Fan's expression soured. A keen awareness settled over him – Qin Wentian's hand in this was no accident. While resentment simmered, there existed no recourse against Qin Wentian's craftiness. A creeping unease grew within Yang Fan – a conviction that an exit lay within this labyrinth. The Bailu siblings were evidence of that truth, now vanished from sight.

"The formation evolves. A second resonance requires a different trigger point," Qin Wentian elucidated, his steps halting by the rampart. A glance exchanged with Old First, and synchronized palm thrusts imprinted a designated location on the ephemeral barrier.

"HALT THEM!"

Yang Fan and his compatriots' expressions morphed into a mosaic of alarm. They still reeled from the shock of the rampart's retaliatory backlash against Zhu Sha and his companion. Unprepared for Qin Wentian's abrupt assault, they stood frozen, caught off guard by his swift maneuver.

Their response, however, was a beat too slow. The barrier flickered to life, swallowing Qin Wentian and Old First whole. The sight prompted the stragglers' complexions to drain of color, replaced by dread.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the rampart, Qin Wentian and Old First reunited with the Bailu siblings.

"Qin Wentian, my youngest brother…" Old First's voice quivered, laced with concern.

Qin Wentian's reply arrived, recounting the demise of Old Third at the hands of Zhan Chen and his partner. His words painted a grim tale of their manipulation, complete with a companion's fateful foray into the very formation that consumed her life.

Bailu Jing's eyes ignited with a steely glint. "So he sought to eliminate you and Little Yi due to his secrets."

Qin Wentian nodded solemnly. "Exactly. All I could do was play ignorant. Thankfully, Zhao Lie's interruption disrupted Zhan Chen's designs."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted over the undulating terrain, the imposing ancient mountains, and the central grand hall crowned by an Ascendant sculpture. They had arrived at last.

"Even their combined might will shatter the barrier," Old First mused, acknowledging the formidable strength harbored by those aligned with transcendent forces. Their victory, however, would carry a price.

"Agreed. But first, let's explore the grand hall," Qin Wentian resolved.

Continuing forth, the quartet found their path unburdened by further traps. At the entrance of the grand hall, a vista of staggering proportions unfolded, leaving them in awe of the monumental space. What seized their attention most was the sculpture ahead, adorned with two ancient scrolls in its hands. The intricacies etched into its form bore an uncanny resemblance to human features.

Beneath their feet, Divine Inscription patterns adorned the floor, their luminescence casting an ethereal glow that bathed the grand hall.

"These patterns appear benign," ventured Old First, addressing his query to Qin Wentian.

"Indeed. Rather than traps, they resemble conduits of energy awaiting activation. Those adept in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions can command them," Qin Wentian agreed, sharing Old First's assessment.

"Then let's venture in and find out," Bailu Jing chimed in, taking a daring stride forward. In response, the runic lines shimmered, engulfing the area in a cascade of golden radiance. As the light faded, a group of silhouettes emerged in their midst.

Nine figures, bathed in a resplendent golden aura, stood before them. Their gazes glinted with a razor-sharp intensity, akin to unsheathed swords. Suspicion clouded their expressions as they appraised Qin Wentian and his companions.

"Among you, who claims the mantle of Inscriptionist?" questioned a golden guardian, his voice slicing through the air.

Qin Wentian locked eyes with the guardian, unflinching. "I am."

"Me as well," Old First declared, narrowing his gaze. The nine resembled Puppets yet were different, endowed with a human-like sentience manifest in their gaze.

The speaking golden guardian appraised Qin Wentian and Old First, conveying, "We are the 'Golden Armored Puppets,' crafted by the Master. Our power, uniformly peaking at Yuanfu's pinnacle, is dedicated to guarding the Master's legacy. His successor must excel in both the Dao of Divine Inscriptions and cultivation, displaying prodigious talent in both realms."

Qin Wentian's eyes flared with realization. Their journey through this trial had yielded insight into its nature – a gauntlet tailored to choose the Ascendant's heir. The trial's traps were impervious to all but two solutions: an overpowering force at the peak of Yuanfu or a Divine Inscriptionist Grandmaster endowed with profound mastery over the Dao of Divine Inscriptions.

"Little Yi, remain behind me," directed Bailu Jing, shielding his sister from the impending clash. The danger radiating from the nine guardians was palpable. Four of them advanced, brandishing golden long spears.

This was the ultimate test, the culmination of their trials.

With Astral Souls unfurled, Bailu Jing exuded a formidable aura. The ominous pressure stemming from his Seven Slaughters Astral Soul's Killing Path enveloped him.

A voice of disdain rippled through the air as a golden guardian scorned, "You're acceptable, but inadequate." A blur of motion followed – the guardian vanished, his spear puncturing space with the precision of golden lightning.

In response, Bailu Jing surged forward, invoking the Great Sun Nine Beheading Technique. The mandate's essence spilled forth, weaving a lattice of golden threads that resembled a sunlit vortex, brimming with lethal intent.

"Shatter!" the guardian retorted icily. His spear unleashed a beam of brilliance, which collided with the vortex, obliterating its brilliance.

Witnessing the guardian's devastating prowess, Bailu Jing's expression congealed, a momentary shock cascading across his features.

Bailu Jing rekindled the Great Sun Nine Beheading Technique, sun's might cascading through the web of golden threads. Sun flames erupted with a fierce howl, each thread cleaving with staggering force, potent enough to challenge even a peak-level Yuanfu cultivator's defenses.

Yet his adversary's might surpassed expectations, proving impervious to his assault. No amount of effort could inflict harm.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian and Old First fended off their own attackers. Qin Wentian stamped the ground, summoning an intricate array of runic outlines. He harnessed their latent energy, conjuring a formidable sword-type Inscription to assail his opponent. Despite intricate tactics and a storm of swords, the guardian deftly dispelled each manifestation. Closing in, he declared, "You lack the mettle, unworthy of inheritance and combat. DEATH BECKONS!"

In response, potent killing intent surged from the guardian, who advanced relentlessly toward Qin Wentian.

An incensed fire blazed within Qin Wentian's eyes.

How could he not seethe? In one fell swoop, the guardian invalidated his worthiness and quashed his eligibility for the inheritance. A single statement reduced him to unworthiness.

"Surviving these trials required ability, not luck. All four of us rightfully arrived here. So, why does my presence render me unfit for inheritance?" Qin Wentian's retort was tinged with anger, a resolute challenge to the guardian's judgement.

"Successorship hinges on adeptness in the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, complemented by unparalleled cultivation prowess. You, at the third level of Yuanfu, lack qualification. Master's legacy is reserved for a heaven-chosen paragon. Your inadequacy is palpable." The guardian's intent remained unswayed, his advance unrelenting. "This legacy is beyond your reach. PERISH!"

With the words, the guardian's golden spear gleamed, thrusting unerringly toward Qin Wentian.

A sense of finality pervaded the atmosphere – this guardian's intent was fatal. Qin Wentian's heart chilled, and an icy miasma radiated from his form. Such a sophisticated way to say, "You don't measure up."