Li Gang said pitifully, "I was poisoned when I was very young. I don't know what poison it was, but I remember Father saying one of its components was Purification Fern. It not only degraded my talent but also destroyed my Spiritual Imprint. Initially, I possessed Grade A talent, but now I am reduced to Grade D!"
"I just want to know, is there a way to at least increase my talent?"
Jiang Wushuang looked at him and understood. 'So that's why he had such high Secret Techniques accomplishment. Without a Spiritual Imprint, it is really difficult for him to improve. I don't think he can increase his Cultivation anymore. Rank 3 early stage is probably his limit!'
Jiang Wushuang sighed. "I am sorry, but I don't have any methods to increase your talent. Although I do know a way to let you gain an artificial Spiritual Imprint. In the Western Continent, there is a sect called the Wonderous Sect. They possess a secret technique that allows them to steal others' Spiritual Imprints and engrave them on their own soul. In fact, they even possess methods to increase the Upper Limit of the Spiritual Imprint."
Li Gang immediately memorized the name: Wonderous Sect.
Li Gang looked at him and asked, "Is there no one else who knows how to increase talent?"
Jiang Wushuang thought for a moment. "Those Celestial Sect higher-ups might know about it. They are the strongest sect in the world, with a history of millions of years. So, they should know!"
Li Gang nodded and requested again, "Can you send me to the Central Continent? I will repay your grace immediately!"
Jiang Wushuang felt guilty. 'He didn't gain anything but still wishes to repay me. He is worth entrusting.'
He asked, "Are you sure you want to go?"
Li Gang nodded firmly.
Jiang Wushuang laughed. "Good, good."
He took out a token and a sword. "This is a transportation token I created with my Spatial understanding. As long as you have sufficient Spirit Stones and have been to the place you are going, you can use this token to travel anywhere. I don't have anything else to give you, so take it as part of my inheritance to you. And also take this Sword—I hope you can return it to the Sword Gate. This can make up for my biggest regret. Do you want to go right now, or leave some words for your family?"
Li Gang thought of his mother. "Let me speak to them."
Jiang Wushuang nodded and motioned with his hand. The barrier instantly shattered.
Li Gang went to Li Yuxong and said, "Tell Mother I am going somewhere far away. Don't worry about me. Within ten years, she will hear from me safe and sound. This is my promise."
Then he looked at Wang Xueyao. "Let's talk."
Wang Xueyao nodded and went with him alone.
"Can you help me take care of Tranquil Vale Village?"
Wang Xueyao smirked. "You're asking this of me, someone who just tried to kill you?"
Li Gang sighed. "I have no other option. Initially, I schemed against Huang Ling so that I could use the power behind her to protect my family when I leave. Even though I didn't know if I could leave so quickly, I thought of leaving as soon as I returned."
"Spirit Dragon Faction might attack us. I know Huang Ling will help, but I have to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. I can only trust you. Even though you tried to kill me, I am sure you were just testing me."
Wang Xueyao looked at him and nodded. "Okay, but this promise is limited to ten years. After that, I am no longer responsible."
"That is more than enough," Li Gang smiled.
Li Gang suddenly thought of something, took out a sword, and asked, "Can you tell me the grade of this Sword?"
Wang Xueyao was surprised. "This is a peak Grade 8 treasure! Did that old geezer give it to you?"
Li Gang nodded and smiled meaningfully. "He entrusted me to return it to the Sword Gate."
Wang Xueyao laughed, as if she heard a joke. "He entrusted you? It seems even he fell for your trap. He's just a soul—no matter how smart he was when alive, his current intelligence isn't as high as those Kings and Monarchs."
Wang Xueyao looked at him seriously. "You did well. I hope we can be allies in the future."
Li Gang smiled. "When I become strong enough, I will come back and marry you."
The moment he said that, something in Wang Xueyao's space ring was triggered. She murmured inwardly, 'Got you!'
However, she showed no expression on her face.
She looked at him with playful disdain. "You have to surpass me if you want to obtain me..." She paused, then asked, "Why did you manipulate them to fight among themselves? In this Inheritance, it all seems pointless!"
Li Gang replied, "It may seem pointless to you, but not to me. If I hadn't done that, then even if Yuxong won this Inheritance, they would have forcefully taken it back. They might have taken it out on our family. And there's one more reason—I didn't know what kind of Inheritance would take place, and I was not sure I would win. So, I decreased the competition from the beginning. I also got various benefits by looting those four factions—Spirit Stones, all kinds of Spiritual Plants, and treasures. After you, I am probably the richest here. You will see, they won't dare to attack you."
Wang Xueyao nodded.
Li Gang looked at her. "If you ever leave, would you leave a message?"
Wang Xueyao thought for a moment. "Yes, you can get it from Xiaoyan."
Li Gang nodded. "Thank you."
Saying that, he left without looking back. Wang Xueyao smiled. "Be proud. You are worth being my ally!"
Li Gang paused and then left silently. As he walked, he saw someone waiting for him.
"Big brother..." Li Yuxong's emotions were complex. He had already learned everything from Huang Ling, but he still couldn't accept that he had almost been killed by his own brother.
Li Gang smiled. "You came at the right time. Give me that sword scroll..." Huang Ling intervened immediately.
"Don't push your luck."
Li Gang laughed. "I just want to take a look—with you here, are you still afraid I would steal it?"
Huang Ling narrowed her eyes, but Li Yuxong stopped her and handed over the scroll.
Li Gang read it. It was long and took over five minutes to finish.
He looked up, surprised. "It seems my memory has improved. With just one glance, I can remember the whole thing!"
Huang Ling sneered. "Did you forget your Soul Cultivation has reached Rank 5 mid-stage?"
Li Gang nodded thoughtfully. 'Even before, I could memorize large contents, but as a human, I couldn't be perfect in every aspect. It would have taken me an hour and I might have made mistakes. Now, Cultivation affects both thinking speed and memorization. I have to be wary of those old monsters.'
Li Gang had always sharpened his mind. At ten, he could calculate 20 moves ahead in chess and handle calculations of multiple 15-digit numbers in moments. Before rebirth, he was a math genius and could do 5-digit calculations instantly. Now, with his Soul Cultivation, he could do 30-digit calculations. This is the difference between a Warrior's thinking speed and a Mortal's.
He took out a paper, wrote something, and handed it to Li Yuxong along with the scroll. "Take this and give it to Mother when you return."
He looked at Jiang Wushuang, standing nearby. "You can send me now."
Jiang Wushuang nodded. "I will send you to the periphery of the Sword Gate. From there, you will be on your own!"
Li Gang nodded.
Jiang Wushuang used his Spatial Power and opened a portal. "Go fast. I can only maintain it for ten seconds."
Li Gang acted quickly and entered it. He soon emerged in a forest. A good place to land. At least no one saw me.
'This time, the gain was huge. As for returning the Sword—dream on!'
Li Gang laughed loudly.
Meanwhile, the Inheritance ended in the Southern Continent.
Everyone emerged one by one, but the Jade Harbor faction members all looked grim at those who returned.
Long Chang looked at Long Yifan. "What happened? Where are the others?"
Long Yifan's face darkened. "They all died."
Long Chang was shocked. "What happened? Tell me in detail. Who did it?"
Long Yifan turned to Huang Ling. "Let's return. We will explain later."
Wang Xueyao smiled. They hadn't attacked—likely because they were unclear of Shadow Phoenix Faction's relation with Azure Faction. And Huang Ling must have stopped them.
Ren Ying's deeds were completely suppressed by the four major powers of Jade Harbor City. They put him on a must-kill list, but no one knew where he went. His name became their greatest shame, one they could only hide.
Azure Mountain, Tranquil Vale Village, Li Family Mansion
Song Yunlan looked at Li Yuxong nervously. "Tell me, where is Gang-er?" Li Minghui, nearby, also waited anxiously.
Li Yuxong replied, "Don't worry, Mother. He went to the Central Continent to fulfill the Monarch's wish. He left a letter for you."
Li Yuxong handed her the letter.
Song Yunlan quickly read it. Li Minghui sighed in relief.
"Mother, I am going to the Central Continent.You remember? I told you I want to become someone you can be proud of!I know you are worried about me, so I will make my name resound across all five regions soon. I have already found a way to increase my potential, and I don't want to miss my chance.
Remember this name: Zhang Hao."
Song Yunlan smiled. "I will wait for you."
At the same time, somewhere in Central Continent.
Li Gang stepped out of the portal and into the forest. The air was fresh, the world vast and indifferent. Behind him, the portal closed silently, swallowing the path he had left.
He tightened his grip on the sword. No hesitations. No second thoughts.
Every step forward carried him farther from the life he knew, from the rules, the battles, the inheritance he had claimed. Everything was left behind.
Only the future remained.
END OF VOLUME 1 - MONARCH INHERITANCE.