Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

"To think he's so powerful. He truly lives up to his reputation as one of the top figures in the Southern Wilderness." Beishan Jianxiong's face was filled with apprehension.

Although they had always known these Sect Leaders were powerful, the Southern Wilderness had been peaceful for so long that few had ever seen them in action. As a result, people only had a vague notion of their strength, with no idea just how formidable they truly were.

Now that Sect Leader Yuan had made his move, everyone finally understood that his power surpassed that of countless other powerhouses.

This was a true hegemon, a man who could roil the Southern Wilderness and shake the very heavens.

'We're alive!' Once they stabilized themselves, both Beishan Jianxiong and Beichen Xinghe breathed a sigh of relief.

As men of their station, powerhouses in their own right, they cherished their lives far more than any ordinary person.

To them, simply surviving was the best possible outcome.

However, while they were still alive, Sect Leader Yuan's strike had left them gravely injured, their faces ashen.

'It seems Sect Leader Yuan doesn't actually want to start a full-blown war with our Beiming Sword Sect,' Beichen Xinghe muttered to himself. 'Otherwise, he would have killed all the Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators here in one fell swoop. The cost of war is too high; I doubt the Lingyun Sect can afford it.'

After all, the might of the Beiming Sword Sect was far beyond anything the Lingyun Sect could match!

Although everyone knew of Sect Leader Yuan's reservations, no one dared to show even a trace of arrogance.

Figures of his stature were often capricious and unpredictable. No one ever knew what they were thinking, and the consequences of angering them were unimaginable.

After steadying himself, Beichen Xinghe cupped his hands in a salute toward Sect Leader Yuan. "Sect Leader Yuan, please quell your anger. This was indeed our fault, but we were merely overcome with grief and indignation. We had absolutely no intention of provoking your sect. I hope you can forgive us." With no backup from the Beiming Sword Sect yet in sight, he had no choice but to take a humble stance.

Sect Leader Yuan retracted his massive hand, then clasped both hands behind his back and gazed imperiously in all directions. "Competition between the junior disciples is acceptable," he declared. "However, if you seniors wish to interfere and change the rules of the game, then do not blame me for being ruthless. If anyone dares to bully the Lingyun Sect as if we were defenseless, I have no issue with showing them my true strength and resolve. When that time comes, I will make the very sky run red with blood. It will not be as simple as this."

"Yes, yes!" Hearing this, the Elders from Thousand Lakes Mountain, Dongze Sect, and Wind Watching Cliff hastily nodded in agreement.

In the past, they believed that as long as their three great sects joined forces, they could still contend with the Lingyun Sect.

But now, after witnessing Sect Leader Yuan's strength, they finally understood how ignorant they had been.

If the Lingyun Sect truly decided to make a move, they feared that even with their three sects combined, they could not escape the fate of total annihilation.

"The Beiming Sword Sect and the Lingyun Sect have always been on good terms; we would naturally never do such a thing again," Beichen Xinghe said. "This incident was entirely due to our impulsiveness. Once more, we offer our deepest apologies." He then bowed low to Sect Leader Yuan.

"I hope you remember your own words," Sect Leader Yuan said coolly, without further comment.

The overwhelming might he had just displayed was more than enough to cow them into submission.

There was no need for more words.

Strength was the only law that mattered.

"Absolutely, we will!" The elders from the various sects all nodded, their faces filled with awe.

Sect Leader Yuan said no more, simply turning his gaze toward the Dongze Ruins before them.

However, Beichen Xinghe and the others merely pursed their lips, looking as though they wanted to speak but held back.

Because their Magic Swords were still in Sect Leader Yuan's hands!

But at this moment, they didn't dare ask for them back, terrified of provoking him.

"Let's wait for news from the sect first," Beichen Xinghe said to Beishan Jianxiong.

"Mm." Beishan Jianxiong nodded and fell silent.

The Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouses all obediently stood to the side to recuperate, while the Celestial Pill Realm Cultivators, naturally, did not dare utter a word.

The overwhelming might Sect Leader Yuan had displayed still left their Heart Spirits reeling in shock.

It was difficult to imagine that one person could be so powerful as to crush the combined attacks of seven Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouses with a mere wave of his hand.

This was beyond anyone's comprehension.

On the Lingyun Sect's side, however, Yuan Chun the Pill Master and the others revealed knowing smiles.

Long before Beichen Xinghe had arrived, they had already relayed the news to Sect Leader Yuan.

That was why Sect Leader Yuan was able to arrive in time.

"Since Ling Fei has already merged with the Celestial Fire, why hasn't he come out yet?" Sect Leader Yuan asked after glancing at the Dongze Ruins.

"Sect Leader, Ling Fei said he wanted to see the inheritance left behind by the Marsh King," Yuan Lang the Pill Master reported.

"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Yuan's eyes lit up. He said, "The Marsh King... he was a legendary figure in the Southern Wilderness. His strength was Heaven-Reaching. I, too, entered this Marsh King Mountain back in the day. Unfortunately, due to a disparity between our constitutions and cultivation systems, I was unable to obtain his inheritance!" His eyes revealed a hint of regret.

Obtaining an inheritance was not just a matter of talent; it also required a fated opportunity.

This so-called fated opportunity meant that one's cultivation system had to be similar to that of the person who left the inheritance in order to have a chance of obtaining it.

"If Ling Fei can obtain the Marsh King's inheritance, it will be a great blessing for our Lingyun Sect," Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun said, his face filled with anticipation.

The East Marsh King!

A figure of his caliber could have easily established his own sect in the Southern Wilderness.

Back in the day, he did indeed have a large number of followers.

Unfortunately, after the East Marsh King's defeat, some of those followers were killed by King Ji's men, while others went into hiding and lived out their lives in anonymity.

The elders of the Lingyun Sect all held deep respect for such a figure.

...

「Inside the Dongze Ruins.」

By the long bridge of Marsh King Mountain, Fang Yuan, Zhao Fan, and the others were waiting in boredom.

"I wonder what kind of inheritance this Marsh King left behind for the trial to be so difficult. I couldn't even get across the long bridge before I was sent out." Fang Yuan blinked her big eyes, her face full of indignation as she looked at the bridge. After all, she was a genius of the Lingyun Sect.

And yet, she couldn't even cross this bridge.

'This Marsh King is just being a bully!'

Zhao Fan chuckled. "Don't complain, Junior Sister Fang. The Marsh King's abilities were said to be Heaven-Reaching, far beyond what even Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouses can match. The inheritance he left behind is naturally extraordinary. Only a once-in-a-millennium genius could hope to obtain it. There's no need for people like you and me to dwell on it."

"I suppose so." Fang Yuan nodded slightly.

Although she prided herself on being a genius, she also knew that there were far too many people stronger than her.

Lian Shuang, He Tianming, and even that Pill Master, Ling Fei, all seemed to have more talent than her.

"Right now, only Senior Brother He, Senior Sister Lian Shuang, and Ling Fei the Pill Master haven't come out. I wonder which of them will be able to obtain the Marsh King's inheritance?" Fang Yuan rested her chin on her delicate hand, a thoughtful expression on her face.

At this time, more and more Lingyun Sect disciples were gathering here.

There were now a total of nine of them.

But most of them were even worse off; they had only just entered before being sent flying out by attacks conjured by the Restrictions.

THUD!

Just then, there was a flash of light and shadow up ahead, and a figure was seen being hurled out.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan, Zhao Fan, and the others all widened their eyes.

"It's Senior Brother He!" Once the figure emerged, everyone immediately cried out in alarm.

"Even Senior Brother He couldn't pass this trial?" Zhao Fan's brow furrowed tightly.