Somewhere in the Dusk Zone, a girl with a petite body and a forlorn expression stood at the helm of a ship looking in a direction. This direction would inevitably lead one to a vibrating mountain, one that seemed to contain a trace of endlessness.
This little girl was a divine beast and the sister of Eshe, Esi.
"Sister…" her words were soft, and her eyes flashes with intense, profound sadness. Her hands clenched fiercely. Within her left was a token-like object that emitted a soft white glow that emanated life. This was a life talisman connected to Eshe. It was intact, but it was slightly dimmer than it was a few hours ago.
In her other hand was a unique talisman, designed for long-range soul communication. However, it was dull in color and held no glow.
"Why must it be so?" Esi bit her lower lips, recalling her sister's words. If she didn't respond by sending a message every five minutes, then she had likely met misfortune. With eyes filled with reluctance, she took control over the skyship and departed. Only after she had traveled a considerable distance away did she finally look back, the corners of her eyes wet, "Please survive. I believe in you."
Her fingers softly rubbed the life talisman. As long as it remained unshattered, there was hope.
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Yan Zaizen hovered outside the mountain's entrance, his eyes flickering. "Loyalty…" Earlier, Eshe was unwilling to deliver her sister in exchange for a quick death. This was even after Yan Zaizen had destroyed her physical body, cultivation, and begun to torture her soul with an indescribable amount of pain. She was unrelenting.
However, he had no admiration for her, only frustration. "As long as Eshe is alive, I'll find you." As he recalled that little girl that had given him information and then helped select him as bait, a trace of anger emerged in his eyes.
Only after a while did he settle his thoughts and move on, placing the matter at the furthest depths of his mind. Instead, he turned towards the hexagon emblem in his hand that no longer contained six different colors, but a single color - white.
"I wonder what's so special about this inheritance?" Thanks to Katniss, he had gained a further understanding about the situation. The hexagon was a key to a Grand Inheritance, one established by Grand (Heaven) Heavenly Monarch. It was divided into a series of trials and restrictions.
Firstly, one can only enter any grounds with a cultivation base of the second-floor Heavenly Genesis Realm, rank two Fiendgod, or realms of cultivation that were their equivalent. This restriction felt odd, but who was he to truly question it?
There was also the fact that the hexagon emblem was only the 'key' to take apart in the inheritance trial, and this was simply a pre-trial to find suitable participants. It was much like Lang Xue's trial, obtaining the right to enter meant comprehending a certain concept, or in this case, being at a certain level, and traveling a far distance, or in this case, complete the hexagon emblem.
"Also, there is no final location. This emblem, when completed, allows one to enter the trial via a unique spatial array. I can enter anytime I wish." When he learned this, he couldn't help but softly chuckle.
Katniss truly was helpful. Unfortunately, Yan Zaizen had to keep her restricted along with Iceborn and Eshe. She wasn't being tortured, but he didn't set her free either. After all, she belonged to some force or another, and if he did set her free, what's to say that force won't track him down?
Therefore, he much rather keep her. It truly was an effortless task after sealing their cultivation bases, stripping them off all armaments and clothing, and taking all their possessions. As long as they do not die, he didn't feel worried.
"First and foremost, let's consolidate my cultivation and reach the second-floor before anything else." Deciding, Yan Zaizen couldn't help but become excited. He obtained essentially the wealth of every single one of those members, and then some from the tiny inheritances of each location. With this, including the profound heaven hearts, he was certain that he could quickly start to regain his previous cultivation.
Taking a step forward, heavenly true-essence begun to emanate from his body. This heavenly true-essence effused ripples from the law of space. The ripples touched the surrounding area.
Bruuum~
A peculiar sound resounded suddenly. Yan Zaizen's form became ethereal, as if he existed in a different layer of space. However, that step only led him a single step forward. Immediately after, his body's form became corporeal once more.
"As I thought…" Yan Zaizen furrowed his brows and sighed. The spatial laws here were restricted somehow. This wasn't just because of the Fortune Cemetery's unique characteristics, but the Dusk Zone specifically.
In the soul jade from Eshe, it revealed that some laws were impeded from being active. This included space and light, but the vice versa was also true. The Dusk Zone strengthened the laws of time and darkness. It was a very interesting detail and he felt it briefly with his array. Luckily, an array functions off the formation flags as its source of power, unlike normal law usage. Therefore, the Regalia Spatial Array enabled him to freely execute his various laws.
"Even then, space laws are still weakened…" Yan Zaizen didn't intend to use the Regalia Spatial Array often, as it consumed far too much energy. "Then…" With vibrant eyes, his body suddenly exploded with lightning. Deep crackling emanated from his body as black lightning exploded from every pore of his body, originating from his heavenly shrine.
Each strand of lightning seemed to contain an essence of pure, never-ending death.
"Lightning of Cyclic Death."
Boom!
A bolt of black lightning streaked through the skies at incredible speeds, and all forms of resistance was brought to death, enhancing its speed further. His body soared across the skies, all living things looked onwards with fear, and even Yaoguai avoided its aura.
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Dusk Zone, Region 13.
The Dusk Zone size exceeded hundreds of 'Titan' Realms combined, but it was still divided nicely. It was divided in 33 Regions, and it was one of the 108 Zones of the Fortune Cemetery, with each zone only being equal or greater than the Dusk Zone in size. Its vastness also left room for many powers to grow, settle, and leave their inheritance behind.
It was due to this vast size that could rival an entire heaven, but contained endless resources, that many preferred this place to leave their inheritances. With its other unique properties, it was truly superb for such tasks.
For Heavenly Cultivators, the Fortune Cemetery was a holy ground that could never be matched within the thirty-three heavens.
In a man-made cave, Yan Zaizen sat quietly in thought. "This place contains all laws...but its layers are so odd, so inconsistent. In some places, laws are sovereigns, even some world laws can rival Imperial Laws in power, but space...an imperial law is inferior to even fire, a mortal law." This fact truly disturbed Yan Zaizen, but also increased his desire to know more about this Heavenly Origin Grounds named the Fortune Cemetery by its inhabitants.
After some pondering, he could only sigh in wonder. Turning his thoughts elsewhere, a vibrant glow of misty white covered his body as it contained the essence of anything, everything, but also nothing - the essence of mimicry.
The pyramid form of his Heavenly Shrine showed two complete floors, completely filled to the brim with heavenly energy.
After recovering this level of cultivation, he smiled softly. "Regaining my cultivation is the first step. After this inheritance trial, I'll reach the utter maximum I can, then find the compass." Setting his priorities, he looked at the white emblem in the shape of a hexagon.
"Let's go." With a thought, the hexagon shattered into bits. These bits were of a brilliant white color and fluttered about like weightless glass, it felt surreal. Yan Zaizen could've sworn that the shattered glass was soft feathers. These feather-glass shards swirled softly and continued until it became a vortex large enough for several men to fit in.
"I'm sure this trial won't be simple." Recalling the Earthly Beginnings and Heavenly End trial, he knew there would be some challenges here. With a calm heart, he entered the white vortex. Soon after, it slowly shrunk until it became a dot of light. Then, like a tongue of fire touching water, the light turned to a wisp of smoke.