(Bonus Chapter = 2k collections!)
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All of Ren Zu's planning had led him to this moment.
After months of preparation, he had finally achieved his goal.
For eight long months, Ren Zu worked tirelessly to create a Profound Art capable of concealing the memories of his past life. He knew that the Golden Crow or any other God seeking the inheritance would have the power to probe his memories. Allowing that would be an unacceptable risk.
The result of his efforts was the Profound Art of the Heavenly Veil of Destiny Reversal.
Combining his vast knowledge of medicine with his innate creativity and absolute control over profound energy, Ren Zu developed an unprecedented technique. Through it, he created a neural inhibition barrier capable of preventing the reactivation of neuron clusters linked to specific memories. In simple terms, it was like "turning off" memory clusters without causing damage to the rest of the brain.
To reinforce the illusion, he implanted artificial signals—modulated patterns of profound energy—that mimicked false engrams, memory records that seemed to have been truly lived. These false memories were then woven into the individual's past, intertwined with their life's timeline, as if they had always been part of their existence, including their very soul...
In other words, this Profound Art not only concealed memories but also selectively chose what would be revealed. More than erasing, it reprogrammed destiny, weaving illusions so convincing that even the Residual Spirit of a True God could not distinguish them from reality.
Ren Zu used this Art to create a carefully crafted history, suitable for receiving the Golden Crow's Inheritance. However, he knew that before granting him the legacy, the Golden Crow would attempt to erase his Vermilion Bird lineage. Anticipating this, he prepared a second safeguard: the Profound Art of the Nameless Abyss Seal.
This technique, based on his spatial manipulation through the Ancestral Spatial Symbol, concealed both the soul mark and the bloodline within a separate void space detached from his body and spirit. However, there was a dangerous limitation: the concealment could not last more than twenty-four hours. Beyond that limit, Ren Zu risked permanently losing the soul mark and the Vermilion Bird lineage.
With these two Profound Arts, the Heavenly Veil of Destiny Reversal and the Nameless Abyss Seal, Ren Zu's plan was clear: convince the Golden Crow to allow him to participate in the trials, inherit its power, and, at the decisive moment, deceive even the Golden Crow's Residual Spirit.
But apparently, his plans worked out better than expected.
The Golden Crow took an interest in his unique talent and chose him as its heir without requiring him to undergo the trials—it was easier than he had thought!
Ren Zu let out a mental sigh before pretending to regain the consciousness that had been concealed by his Nameless Abyss Seal earlier, while carefully paying attention to the process...
He sat up abruptly, opened his eyes, and saw a pair of golden pupils staring intently at him from the heavens.
Feigning indignation, Ren Zu said, "You…"
But he stopped abruptly, as if he had discovered something.
As he had already seen… The Vermilion Bird mark was still within his soul, and his lineage was intact… at the same time, within his body, there was clearly another type of fiery energy.
Ren Zu extended both hands to prove it, and two balls of flame ignited in his palms simultaneously. One was blood-red, and the other was a scarlet flame. However, the biggest difference was that the flames in his left hand burned calmly, while the flames in his right palm… it was evident there was no wind in the area, yet the flames danced and swayed violently, as if they were a ferocious beast. Moreover, they burned with a frenzied aura that would make anyone's heart race.
Two balls of flame: one as calm as the infinite oceans, the other as terrifying as torrential waves.
The flame in his left hand was the Vermilion Bird flame, which Ren Zu was familiar with.
In his right hand… was a flame even more scorching than the Vermilion Bird's, a flame that exuded a tyrannical aura.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the voice of the Golden Crow.
"Hng, you unexpectedly woke up quickly! When the Golden Crow's blood enters the body of other living creatures, it should be harder to overcome than a ferocious beast; it could even make the creature burn directly. Yet, in your body, it became so tame! In just one hour, and even while unconscious, you managed to absorb thirty percent! As expected of the one I recognize as my heir and who possesses the Vermilion Bird's Soul!"
The Golden Crow's voice was incomparably dull and dejected, and Ren Zu was unsure if he misheard when he detected faint signs of weakness in her tone.
"You infused the Golden Crow's bloodline into my body… but didn't erase the Vermilion Bird's lineage?"
"What else?" the Golden Crow's Soul said coldly. "Hmph! Don't naively think this noble one lacks the ability to erase your Vermilion Bird lineage; it's just that this noble one suddenly felt merciful and changed her decision! What a joke… this noble one actually allowed the Golden Crow's lineage and the Vermilion Bird's lineage to coexist in a single body… hahahaha… that's the greatest joke…"
Ren Zu smiled inwardly but outwardly showed only a strange expression.
The Golden Crow's voice sounded again:
"Although this noble one allowed the Golden Crow's lineage and the Vermilion Bird's lineage to coexist within your body, that absolutely does not mean this noble one admits the Vermilion Bird's lineage is on equal footing with the Golden Crow's! The Golden Crow is a divine being born from the core of the Sun. The Golden Crow's flames are the strongest in this world—how could the Vermilion Bird's flames compare? When you've integrated the Golden Crow's lineage into your body and comprehended the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World, you shouldn't even think about using the inferior Vermilion Bird flame!"
"This noble one has granted you all the blood she has in stock, which is far more than what the Vermilion Bird gave you!"
"The Vermilion Bird's Soul bestowed upon you ten volumes of the Vermilion Bird's Spirit Consoling Song, but this noble one will mark your soul with the ten volumes of the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World!"
"That Vermilion Bird's Soul gave you a great gift… this noble one will grant you an even greater gift!!"
The Golden Crow's Soul's words belittled the Vermilion Bird's flames at every turn. She initially "scoffed" at allowing the Golden Crow's lineage and the Vermilion Bird's lineage to coexist, and now, every concession she made to Ren Zu surpassed the legacy he had previously received. Beneath her tyrannical, powerful, and violent exterior, how was she any different from an ordinary competitive woman unwilling to lose?
"The great gift the Vermilion Bird's Soul guaranteed you truly shocked this noble one! However, this noble one's gift is no worse than that of that red chicken!"
At that moment, the golden pupils gleamed, and for an instant, the entire sky was enveloped in golden light. The source of the light slowly floated downward and landed in front of Ren Zu, who extended his arm and carefully touched the golden light source…
Upon contact with Ren Zu's hand, the glow abruptly stopped. Appearing before Ren Zu's eyes was an ordinary-looking jade, about the size of a fist. The jade could be considered translucent and dazzling, and nine golden dots were clearly visible; in fact, these nine dots were obviously connected by a golden thread.
This was the Nine Suns Jade!?
He remembered it was something the Golden Crow would have given to Yun Che in the original story, and it ended up in his hands?!
What an impressive item he had received!
The Nine Suns Jade is one of the highest-level divine jades in the Primordial World! When the full power of a Nine Suns Jade is unleashed, it is enough to obliterate the entire Illusory Demon Realm in an instant! If he could refine such an object, his power would soar to another level! Yun Che in the original story couldn't because he was too weak and used it for other purposes, but he was different. His terrifying physique and unique profound veins allowed him to refine such an object—perhaps that's why the Golden Crow gave him this item?
He carefully lifted the Divine Nine Suns Jade: "Golden Crow Divine God, this Nine Suns Jade is too precious… why did you gift it to me?"
The Golden Crow's Soul was not surprised that he knew about the Nine Suns Jade:
"You must already know, this noble one knows that your unique profound veins and physical body can help you refine it… With this, you should be able to enter the Emperor Profound Realm or even the Tyrant Profound Realm once it's fully refined! But this noble one recommends you do so gradually over the next year to avoid any issues!" The Golden Crow's Soul said softly, as if unsurprised that he knew the name "Nine Suns Jade."
Ren Zu deftly stored the Nine Suns Jade in his spatial ring and then sincerely thanked the Golden Crow's Soul: "I thank the Golden Crow for its generosity… I hope the Golden Crow Divine God forgives my earlier discourteous words."
"Hmph! Why would this noble one lower herself to the level of a human!" The Golden Crow's Soul said coldly. At that moment, her pupils gleamed. Ren Zu's body was instantly engulfed in flames and began to float.
"This is…" Ren Zu's face was full of doubt as he looked around.
"The Sea of Death is the best place for you to train! For the time being, you will focus on refining the Golden Crow's blood within the Sea of Death and comprehending the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World that this noble one has granted you! This noble one will naturally allow you to return once your Little Demon Empress has broken through the barrier! Until then, don't even think about leaving the Sea of Death!"
"…"
"Alright!" Ren Zu agreed. He had no reason to oppose the decision. The Sea of Death was indeed the most suitable place for him to cultivate.
"And also, once you've refined the Golden Crow's blood, eat this!"
The Golden Crow's golden eyes gleamed again, and a point of blazing light condensed in front of Ren Zu. The fire flickered for a few moments before taking the shape of a small pill, which slowly descended to rest in his hands.
It was a deep red, like embers about to erupt into flames, but golden lines ran across its surface, pulsing as if they were living veins.
Ren Zu held it carefully, feeling the heat emanating from it.
"This is the Crimson Ascension Solar Pill," the Golden Crow's Soul's voice echoed, laced with arrogance and disdain. "After you've refined all the blood I've granted you, you will devour this pill. It will force your profound strength to leap forward. With this pill, you'll be able to break through to the Fifth Level of the Sky Profound Realm…"
Ren Zu raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised by the intensity of the energy he felt just by touching it.
The Golden Crow snorted, the sound echoing like muffled thunder in the golden sky.
"Hmph! That ridiculous red chicken gifted you a pill that allowed you to cross a single Realm? What a joke! This noble one is providing you with resources to surpass two great realms at once. The difference is like heaven and earth! There's no comparison between this noble one's benevolence and that feathered worm's stinginess."
The golden flame in her pupils flickered, almost as if she were laughing at her own statement, but there was also a hint of childish competitiveness hidden in every word.
Ren Zu kept his face serene, though inwardly he wanted to laugh at how the Golden Crow seemed to compete with the Vermilion Bird even in gifts.
He bowed his head slightly and said respectfully, "Then I will receive this gift with gratitude, Golden Crow Divine God. I will make the best use of it."
The golden flames around trembled as if the Soul was pleased with his response.
"Now you are this noble one's complete heir! Far better than that red chicken's! Hahahahaha, you are forbidden from using his inferior flames!"
Without waiting for Ren Zu to say another word, the pure golden pupils gleamed, and he vanished from the air… sent directly into the boundless Sea of Death by the Golden Crow's Soul.
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