Chapter 179: The Failed Inheritance
After swiftly flying back to Almo Mountain, Yang Zhentian and Yang Potian arrived, and Potian immediately retreated to his room to study the Sea God's Heart. As for the killing of the Elephant Armor Clan's Second Elder, neither his grandfather nor his uncle seemed particularly concerned.
Once in his room, Potian retrieved the Sea God's Heart and pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto it. The artifact reacted by emitting a blue light and attempting to draw more of his blood, creating an intense suction force. However, an unexpected change occurred—a white bat-shaped mark on Potian's body glowed, disrupting the suction. The force dissipated instantly, and the room returned to an eerie calm.
Suddenly, in his mind, Potian saw a blood-red figure who coldly said, "Greed will get you nowhere, boy." There was no emotion in that voice, but the words made Potian's entire being tremble, his body and spirit overwhelmed by the chilling aura, as though he were submerged in an infernal abyss.
Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the sensation faded, and Potian was left in silence. The Sea God's Heart lay on the table as if nothing had happened. But the icy warning left a lasting impression that haunted Potian.
Confused, he thought, That figure must have been the God of Asura… but what did he mean by 'greed will get you nowhere'? Potian's mind raced. He recalled that in the original story, Tang San, who also possessed the God of Slaughter's domain, successfully inherited the Sea God's Heart. So why was Potian's blood rejected?
Given his current strength, Potian was sure he surpassed the power Tang San had back then. The Sea God's Heart had responded to him at first, only to have some unknown force interrupt it. Perhaps it was because both his spirits shared the God of Slaughter's domain, which clashed with the Sea God's inheritance.
After contemplating the issue from every angle, Potian couldn't get the Sea God's Heart to acknowledge him as its master and had no choice but to abandon the attempt. Frustrated, he thought, Are the Sea God and the Asura God playing some sort of game with me? Who will grant me their inheritance? Or am I just wasting my time?
In the God Realm, within the Asura God's temple, a massive blue figure entered—the Sea God, Poseidon. On the throne sat a blood-red figure, the Asura God himself.
Poseidon was visibly angry. "What are you playing at, Asura? I finally found someone worthy of the Sea God's Heart, and you blocked him! How does that boy have marks from both of your domains on two spirits?"
The Asura God answered with a faint smile, "It's not my doing. Though the boy has two spirits, they're intrinsically linked, sharing a single foundation. Both of his spirits are attacking types, so when he acquired my Slaughter Domain, it manifested on both."
Poseidon was incredulous. "If he already has your domain, why haven't you tested him for your inheritance?"
"While his talent is impressive, he hasn't yet met the criteria for my legacy," the Asura God replied calmly. "Once he does, the test will come."
Poseidon was speechless. "You're just wasting potential! You don't want him, yet you prevent me from granting him my inheritance."
Back on Almo Mountain, Potian was frustrated. He had counted on the Sea God's inheritance, hoping to train at Sea God Island and surpass Qian Renxue in becoming a god. Instead, he had parted with the Phoenix Cockscomb Hibiscus, inadvertently strengthening his rival.
The current peace from Spirit Hall was likely temporary. Once Spirit Hall eliminated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, his family would surely be next. Without godly power, the risk was too great. Potian realized that if his family was to survive, someone within it had to secure a divine inheritance.
In the end, Potian resolved that he would keep searching for a way for his family to gain divine power. If he failed, they would be defenseless in the impending war between gods.
Meanwhile, about 400 kilometers west of Almo Mountain, Yang Ping'an and his team of six quietly approached a bandit fortress known as the Black Cloud Stronghold. Having spent recent months eradicating bandits and mercenaries across their territory, they had finally reached the largest gang in a 500-kilometer radius.
Their missions had transformed them; each had slain at least a hundred enemies. Even Ye Lingling, their support specialist, had taken lives. In the early days, blood and gore had overwhelmed them, and they'd vomited after their first kills. Yet now, a fierce and deadly resolve shone in their eyes, surpassing even the bandits' savagery.
At first, Yang Potian's instruction to leave no one alive had seemed excessive to them. But seeing that the families of the bandits—old men, women, and children alike—had lived comfortably off their stolen loot, they had gradually accepted the mandate.
Yang Ping'an had become a source of resolve for them. "If these people live off the bandits' gains, they should pay the price," he told them. "Living here makes them bandits, and we can show no mercy."
With his words spurring them on, they had obliterated every gang within 300 kilometers, growing stronger with each encounter. Now, they were seasoned and battle-hardened, ready to take on their final challenge: a gang rumored to have a Spirit Emperor among its ranks.
The seven-member team was bold enough to attempt a stealthy ambush on the Black Cloud Stronghold, the largest bandit gang in the area. Despite being only a Soul Ancestor, Yang Tianyue possessed a rare head spirit bone, granting her the strongest detection abilities of the group.
Their strategy was to sneak in undetected, have Dugu Yan poison the gang, and then converge on the Soul Emperor leader. However, as they reached the stronghold's center, flames erupted around them, and numerous spirit masters appeared, completely surrounding them.
The Soul Emperor leader spotted them and laughed mockingly. "So, a bunch of brats thinks they can ambush us? None of you are leaving here alive."
Yang Ping'an glared and demanded, "How did you even find us? Even as a Soul Emperor, you shouldn't have been able to detect us."
The bandit leader chuckled and summoned his spirit, a Lion Demon Hound with an unusually keen sense of smell. Six spirit rings appeared around him—two yellow, three purple, and one black. Though his spirit rings were subpar for a Soul Emperor, his confidence was apparent.
"With my spirit's sense of smell, I can detect anyone within a few kilometers," he boasted. "You kids have potential, so why not stay and join us? Especially the ladies—perfect candidates to be my concubines."
Dugu Yan's voice cut through the leader's laughter, cold and disdainful. "Dream on. You're all about to meet the King of Hell."
Her record for taking down enemies was higher than anyone else's, largely thanks to her lethal Emerald Phosphor Snake Venom, which was devastating to lower-level spirit masters.
Despite the surrounding forces, none of the seven hesitated. They summoned their spirits, prepared to fight. Around them, the bandits activated their own spirits and spirit rings, ready to launch an attack.
The numbers were overwhelming; more than a hundred spirit masters surrounded them, including several five-ring Soul Kings. However, none had ten-thousand-year spirit rings, and some even had lowly ten-year rings.
"Attack, follow the plan!" Yang Ping'an commanded.
At his signal, Dugu Yan summoned her Emerald Phosphor Snake Emperor and released her ten-thousand-year spirit skill: Emerald Heaven Formation. Poisonous mist spread through the air, incapacitating those who hadn't activated their spirits in defense, and many bandits began collapsing.
Yang Ping'an led the charge, gripping his Soul-Breaking Spear and targeting the bandit leader himself, aiming to cut off the head of the snake.
Yang Tianyue followed closely behind, assisting him in the attack, with Niu Meng covering their flanks. The bandit leader was incensed that a mere Soul King dared to challenge him and summoned his Lion Demon Hound, confident in overpowering Yang Ping'an with his superior soul power.
Yet Yang Ping'an's strength was impressive. He unleashed his ten-thousand-year skill, White Tiger Annihilation Strike, directly challenging the bandit leader.
The leader wasn't about to back down, retaliating with his ten-thousand-year skill, transforming his right hand into a massive, glowing paw brimming with destructive force.
At the last moment, Yang Ping'an activated a spirit bone skill for speed, trading places with Niu Meng, who intercepted the attack, while Yang Ping'an drove his spear forward.
The two clashed, and the leader was wounded, a deep gash torn into his shoulder. Furious at being injured by two Soul Kings, he bellowed to his followers, "Kill them all! There's a reward for every head!"
Motivated by the promise of rewards, the bandits surged forward. Meanwhile, Dugu Yan activated multiple poison skills, filling the air with various toxic mists, including stimulants to keep the bandits from collapsing entirely, as well as her snake's lethal venom.
With Ye Lingling's support, the team fought tirelessly, cutting through their opponents. In just ten minutes, most of the bandits had fallen, and even the leader bore several wounds inflicted by Yang Ping'an. The remaining bandits showed signs of severe poisoning from Dugu Yan's venom, weakening their fighting ability.
The leader, realizing he was losing, attempted one last desperate move but was struck down by Yang Ping'an. He lay on the ground, on the brink of death.
Seeing victory close, the seven fought with renewed vigor, and the remaining bandits, demoralized, began to flee.
Suddenly, the bandit leader, feigning death, sprang up and lunged at Yang Tianyue, the youngest of the group. Startled, Yang Tianyue momentarily froze. As his attack was about to land, her right hand transformed, revealing five razor-sharp claws that pierced the leader's body.
The leader, eyes wide in disbelief, managed to utter his final words: "External spirit bone…"
Yang Tianyue scoffed, "I knew you were faking it. I've been waiting for this."
With the final blows, the group eliminated the remaining bandits, leaving none alive except a few who managed to escape. Yang Ping'an set the entire stronghold ablaze to ensure the gang would never regroup.
Though bruised and bloodied, the seven left victorious. Hidden nearby, Yang Wuju had been observing the entire battle, nodding in approval of their performance.
(End of Chapter)
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