Chapter 12: The Forgotten Inheritance
1649 Words
The valley trembled.
Ancient stone doors rose from the earth with a deep, thunderous rumble that echoed through the Spirit Beast Forest. Dust drifted into the air as thick vines, untouched for centuries, snapped apart.
The golden pillar of light pierced the heavens.
Every spirit beast within several kilometers let out frightened cries before retreating deeper into the mountains.
Lin Chen stared at the ancient entrance, his usually calm eyes revealing a trace of surprise.
"So it survived..."
In his previous life, he had heard rumors of an inheritance hidden somewhere within the Azure Mountains. By the time he became the Sword Sovereign, the inheritance had long since been discovered and emptied. No one knew who its original owner was, only that a nameless cultivator had left behind an extraordinary legacy.
He had never imagined the entrance would appear during his second life.
Beside him, Luo Jian swallowed hard.
"I've never seen anything like this."
Lin Chen's gaze swept across the valley.
"You won't be the last."
"What do you mean?"
"The light reached the sky."
"It can be seen from every corner of the forest."
Luo Jian's face stiffened.
"So everyone..."
"...will come."
Lin Chen nodded.
"And they'll come faster than you expect."
As if to prove his words, several distant roars echoed through the mountains. They weren't the cries of spirit beasts.
They were the voices of cultivators.
The inheritance had become the greatest opportunity in the forest.
Everyone wanted a share.
Without another word, Lin Chen walked toward the enormous stone doors.
Luo Jian quickly followed.
"You still intend to enter?"
"If I don't," Lin Chen replied, "someone else will."
The two stopped before the entrance.
The doors towered nearly thirty meters high. Their surfaces were covered in countless ancient runes, many so worn that they were barely visible.
Lin Chen slowly placed his palm against the cold stone.
The moment he did, a faint vibration spread beneath his fingertips.
His expression changed.
"This formation..."
He stepped back.
"What is it?" Luo Jian asked.
"It isn't damaged."
Luo Jian blinked.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No."
Lin Chen looked at the countless runes with narrowed eyes.
"If a formation can remain active after hundreds of years..."
"It means its creator was unimaginably powerful."
He slowly examined the symbols carved into the stone.
Most had faded beyond recognition.
But one remained perfectly intact.
A single sword.
Simple.
Elegant.
Ancient.
Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.
A sword inheritance?
No...
Something about it felt strangely familiar.
Before he could think further, footsteps echoed behind them.
More cultivators entered the valley.
Within minutes, nearly twenty outer disciples had gathered before the stone doors.
Their eyes immediately fixed upon the pillar of golden light.
"It's an ancient ruin!"
"Hahaha! Heaven is finally smiling upon us!"
"I'll definitely become an inner disciple after this!"
Greed quickly replaced caution.
Several disciples rushed toward the entrance without hesitation.
Lin Chen frowned.
"They're making a mistake."
The first disciple reached the stone doors and stretched out his hand.
The instant his fingers touched the surface—
A brilliant golden rune lit up.
Boom!
An invisible force exploded outward.
The disciple was thrown backward like a rag doll.
He crashed into a boulder several meters away before coughing up a mouthful of blood.
The valley fell silent.
Everyone stared at the injured disciple in horror.
No one dared move.
Lin Chen wasn't surprised.
"The formation is testing intent."
Luo Jian looked confused.
"Intent?"
"It rejected him."
"Because he entered with greed."
Before Luo Jian could ask another question, an elderly voice suddenly echoed through the valley.
"Interesting..."
Everyone turned.
An old man wearing faded gray robes slowly emerged from the forest.
His beard reached his chest, and he leaned on a weathered wooden staff.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary wandering cultivator.
Yet Lin Chen's instincts immediately sounded an alarm.
Danger.
The old man's cultivation was completely hidden.
Even with the Voidheart Scripture, Lin Chen couldn't sense the slightest trace of spiritual qi.
That was impossible.
Unless...
His cultivation was far beyond anything Lin Chen had encountered in this life.
The old man smiled kindly.
"So many young talents."
"It seems fate has brought us together."
Several disciples hurriedly bowed.
"This junior greets Senior."
The old man chuckled.
"No need for formalities."
"I'm merely an old traveler."
His gaze casually swept across the crowd before stopping on Lin Chen.
For the briefest moment...
His smile deepened.
"So..."
"There's someone interesting here after all."
Lin Chen remained silent.
Something about this old man didn't feel right.
His appearance...
His timing...
It was all too convenient.
And in the cultivation world...
Coincidences were often the most dangerous things of all.
The old man slowly approached the stone doors, his wooden staff tapping lightly against the rocky ground.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Every step echoed through the silent valley.
The gathered disciples instinctively moved aside, making way for him.
Lin Chen, however, remained where he stood.
His eyes never left the old man's face.
"His breathing is steady... his footsteps leave no trace... even his heartbeat is concealed."
"This is no ordinary wandering cultivator."
The old man stopped a few paces from the entrance and smiled.
"Young friends, this inheritance has slept for many years."
"It would be a pity if impatience cost someone their life."
One disciple stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Senior, do you know how to enter?"
The old man chuckled.
"I know... a little."
He pointed his staff toward the towering stone doors.
"This formation was created to reject greed."
"It welcomes only those with a calm heart."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"So that's why he was injured."
"No wonder..."
"Should we simply walk in without desiring the treasure?"
The old man laughed.
"If only it were that simple."
"The formation judges not your words..."
"...but your heart."
The valley fell silent once again.
Many disciples lowered their heads, uncertain.
Who could truly claim to have no desire?
They had entered the Spirit Beast Forest seeking opportunity.
Greed was part of being a cultivator.
The old man turned toward Lin Chen.
"You seem very calm, young man."
"Why don't you try?"
Every pair of eyes landed on Lin Chen.
Luo Jian whispered anxiously,
"Brother Lin... be careful."
Lin Chen nodded before walking toward the ancient doors.
Each step was steady.
Neither hurried nor hesitant.
When he reached the entrance, he stopped.
Instead of touching the stone immediately, he quietly closed his eyes.
The Void Heart Scripture slowed.
His breathing became almost imperceptible.
He emptied distracting thoughts from his mind.
He did not think about treasures.
He did not think about fame.
Nor did he think about revenge.
He simply wished to understand.
Only then did he place his palm upon the ancient stone.
For a heartbeat...
Nothing happened.
Then—
A warm golden light spread beneath his hand.
The countless runes carved across the doors awakened one after another.
Rather than attacking him, they shone gently, illuminating the valley with a soft radiance.
Gasps erupted from the surrounding disciples.
"It accepted him!"
"How is that possible?"
Even Luo Jian stared in disbelief.
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So..."
"As I thought."
The massive stone doors trembled.
With a deafening rumble, they slowly opened inward.
A rush of ancient spiritual qi poured from the darkness beyond.
It was so pure that every disciple felt their cultivation stir.
Inside lay a broad stone passage stretching into the mountain.
Rows of crystal lamps ignited one after another without anyone touching them.
The corridor glowed with a pale golden light.
Yet Lin Chen did not step inside.
Instead, he quietly examined the floor.
Luo Jian hurried over.
"Why aren't we entering?"
Lin Chen pointed downward.
"Look carefully."
Luo Jian followed his gaze.
The stone floor appeared ordinary...
Until he noticed dozens of tiny holes hidden between the tiles.
His face turned pale.
"Hidden weapons?"
"Yes."
"They're part of the first trial."
Several impatient disciples ignored the warning.
"The inheritance is open!"
"What are you waiting for?"
Three of them rushed through the entrance.
The first few steps were uneventful.
Then—
Click.
A faint mechanical sound echoed through the corridor.
Lin Chen sighed.
"They triggered it."
The walls burst open.
Hundreds of black needles shot through the passage like a storm.
The disciples screamed.
One managed to retreat.
The other two collapsed before reaching the exit.
Their bodies quickly turned dark as the poison spread.
The entire valley became deathly silent.
No one dared take another step.
Sweat trickled down Luo Jian's forehead.
"If you hadn't noticed..."
"We'd be dead."
Lin Chen nodded.
"This inheritance isn't rewarding the strongest."
"It's searching for someone worthy."
The old man smiled as he watched Lin Chen.
For the first time, admiration appeared in his eyes.
"Excellent observation."
"You noticed the mechanism before entering."
Lin Chen looked at him calmly.
"You knew the trap was there."
The old man neither admitted nor denied it.
Instead, he laughed softly.
"Sometimes..."
"The greatest lesson cannot be taught."
"It must be experienced."
Lin Chen didn't respond.
His suspicion only deepened.
This mysterious elder knew far too much about the inheritance.
Yet he hadn't entered himself.
Why?
As everyone remained frozen before the entrance, a cold voice suddenly echoed from the edge of the valley.
"So..."
"I finally found you."
The disciples turned.
More than a dozen figures emerged from the forest.
At their front stood Zhao Feng.
His spotless robes fluttered in the wind as his sharp eyes locked onto Lin Chen.
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"It seems Heaven truly favors me."
"Not only did I find an ancient inheritance..."
"I found the person I've been looking for."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Lin Chen slowly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The inheritance had only just opened.
Yet another battle...
Was already about to begin.
- Writer
