"Young Master Ye, the opportunity in these ruins should be on this ancient corpse. Why don't you... give it a try?"
Ling Xiao smiled, signaling the demonic ape to bring Ye Fan before him. With a wave of his hand, he instantly sealed all of Ye Fan's spiritual power.
A Chosen One always had some life-saving tricks up his sleeve. Ling Xiao didn't want him escaping again.
Otherwise, given a few years, Ye Fan might truly stir up some trouble.
Ling Xiao had no intention of accidentally becoming someone else's stepping stone.
"Ling Xiao... you'll regret this!"
Ye Fan's eyes were filled with frustration, but facing a Soul Sea Realm expert, he truly had little means to fight back.
However...
Although the demonic ape's cultivation was strong, it wasn't a major concern.
After all, constrained by the Eight Desolations Glazed Pagoda, it didn't dare actually kill him.
As long as he could find a way to eliminate Ling Xiao, this crisis could be resolved.
Ye Fan's gaze subtly flickered toward the ancient corpse.
He had already passed numerous trials; logically, it should be time for the reward.
If he could obtain this ancient expert's inheritance, dealing with Ling Xiao wasn't hopeless.
It was laughable that this idiot actually wanted him to try awakening this ancient mighty expert.
A sinister glint flashed in Ye Fan's eyes, but he put on a resistant expression.
"Ling Xiao, don't think I'll help you awaken this senior!"
"Your acting deserves a lifetime achievement Oscar."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, utterly disregarding Ye Fan's schemes.
No matter what secrets this ancient expert hid, they were insignificant to him.
A fallen expert, following the cliché, would at most leave behind a wisp of a remnant soul.
Though it might retain some of its former power, it posed no real threat to Ling Xiao.
The Heavenly Demon True Body was his strongest trump card.
But the ancient Pangu Stone in his sea of consciousness was also a supreme treasure, a bane to all soul entities.
A mere remnant soul was, at best, nourishment.
Ling Xiao almost wished the ancient expert's former realm was higher, so it could better nourish his soul palace!
"Ling Xiao, don't get cocky! You won't end well! You... you'll die a terrible death!"
Ye Fan was taken from the demonic ape by Ling Xiao, held by the neck like a dead dog.
The humiliation was unbearable.
"Young Master Ye, you can eat random things, but don't say random things. A righteous person like me will definitely outlive a demon like you."
Ling Xiao grinned, casually tossing Ye Fan toward the ancient corpse.
Based on his analysis, the Chosen One, after passing seemingly perilous but ultimately harmless trials, finally reached the resting place of the mighty expert.
Tomb guardians, illusions—these were unavoidable challenges.
But they were also the final tests left by the great expert.
Overcoming these led to the most critical moment:
The remnant soul awakens, bestowing the inheritance.
Who dares disturb my slumber?
Note: Must use "I" here in the archaic form in Chinese. Why? To highlight the ancient mighty expert's awesomeness. Saying "me" would lack gravitas.
Ancient folks spoke with refinement.
Thud!
Ye Fan crashed into the great expert's embrace in an utterly humiliating posture.
Then!!!
The entire hall darkened momentarily.
A vast, primordial aura quietly spread.
Visible spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged toward the ancient corpse.
Great Dao hymns accompanied by overwhelming demonic intent suddenly erupted—quite intimidating.
At that moment, the ancient corpse's eyes snapped open.
They seemed to contain endless majesty and a faint trace of lightning.
Yes, this was the look!
Ling Xiao's mind surged with excitement.
Indeed, the ancient mighty expert needed the Chosen One to awaken.
Anyone else tossed over would probably be struck dead by inexplicable lightning.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?!"
A deep, vicissitudinous voice boomed, shaking the entire ancient hall!
Familiar vibe!
Ye Fan's face paled, especially as he seemed to hear countless piercing and fearful demonic whispers.
"Die!!!"
Terrifying demonic aura emanated from the ancient corpse.
But immediately, a golden light manifested in its eyes, fiercely suppressing the demonic intent.
"It's that blade!!"
A spiritual light flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes.
He could clearly feel that the demonic aura in the hall entirely emanated from that demonic blade.
The awakening ancient mighty expert was desperately suppressing the demonic intent threatening to engulf the world.
"Demon's descent..."
The eerie call echoed again in Ling Xiao's sea of consciousness.
Ling Xiao flashed forward, appearing before the ancient corpse. He kicked Ye Fan aside and reached for the demonic blade.
Hum!!
A terrifying pressure instantly descended.
The ancient corpse's eyes fixed on Ling Xiao.
Like a deity overlooking mortals, compelling worship.
"Ant! You seek death!"
Boom!
Ling Xiao shuddered violently as if struck, but his hand didn't release the blade.
"Ha ha ha ha! Ling Xiao, you've brought this upon yourself!"
Ye Fan struggled to his feet.
The moment he touched the corpse, he had learned the blade's origin.
According to the ancient expert's memory, this blade was an artifact of an ancient demon god.
Ordinary people wouldn't just be corrupted by its demonic intent from a glance—they'd turn into mindless puppets.
This great expert had willingly fallen, remaining here to suppress the demonic blade with his lifelong cultivation.
In other words, the opportunity here wasn't the blade but the expert's cultivation and legacy.
It was laughable that Ling Xiao, foolishly thinking the blade was the prize, now faced the expert's wrath without any need for Ye Fan's schemes.
Boom!!
Thunderclouds gathered within the hall, violet-green lightning coiling like furious dragons.
"Ignorant fool! How dare you covet this demonic object? I have suppressed it for three thousand years, finally purging its demonic nature with heavenly thunder. Now awakened, I shall destroy it completely!"
"Ant! Perish!"
The ancient corpse's voice boomed, eyes blazing with lightning.
He glared at Ling Xiao, furious.
Above him, lightning dragons intertwined, forming a sun-like condensation.
The terrifying power within seemed capable of refining all demons in the world!
Ye Fan hid at the hall's side, not fleeing but visibly excited.
Ling Xiao's death would mean vengeance and the inheritance his.
Bliss!