In the dense forest, Bai Tian spotted a group of Soul Eater Bees. The honey produced by this species was known to be rare and valuable—it possessed beautifying properties, could slow aging, and even extend life. Especially for those with hidden injuries in their bodies or meridians, long-term use of this honey was said to completely erase such wounds.
Bai Tian's eyes sparkled, yet he remained cautious. After ensuring there was no immediate danger, he silently approached, held his breath, and quickly collected a few drops of the honey. Satisfied, he immediately left. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to him, several Soul Eater Bees noticed the theft and immediately chased him with a piercing buzz that made his hair stand on end.
Bai Tian ran with all his might to save himself. In his panicked escape, he suddenly saw a third-stage beast—a power equivalent to the Spiritual Sea Realm—fighting another monster. Seeing an opportunity, Bai Tian directed the bees toward the battle.
As he approached, he used the chaos to flee. However, the explosion of power from the fierce battle threw him far. His body slammed hard into the ground, and his vision darkened—Bai Tian lost consciousness.
When he awoke, the pain in his body had not vanished, but in his hand, he now held a Promotion Token. Bai Tian's eyes widened; the pain seemed forgotten. This token was a guarantee to advance to the next stage of the trial and also offered a chance to hunt hidden inheritances. A faint smile appeared on his face—this was a stroke of great luck.
A moment later, Bai Tian ventured deeper into the forest. After walking some distance, he discovered a stone door sealed tightly, protected by faintly glowing formations. Before approaching, he eliminated a weak beast that happened to pass by and threw its body in front of the door.
Bai Tian knew from the books he had read that every place hiding treasures had guardians—whether fierce beasts, formations, or even ancient spirits. He braced himself, knowing that whatever lay beyond the door was certainly not ordinary.
Bai Tian took a deep breath, calming his heart before stepping closer to the stone door. The formations around it trembled faintly, as if assessing the intentions of anyone daring to approach. He knew that one wrong move could be fatal.
Suddenly, from within the stone door, a towering figure emerged. Its body appeared composed of stone and swirling dark energy, its eyes glowing red. The aura it emitted was so strong that Bai Tian felt as if his entire body was held down by an invisible pressure. This was the door guardian, a being whose existence had been warned about in all ancient books.
"Who dares disturb this sacred place?" a booming voice echoed, as if coming from the ground itself.
Bai Tian exhaled and stared into the guardian's blazing eyes. He knew this battle was unavoidable. Quickly, he adjusted the aura within his body, preparing to counter the first strike. The guardian charged, each step leaving cracks in the ground. Bai Tian ducked just in time, avoiding a powerful blow that could have shattered his bones.
Strike after strike came. Bai Tian exploited every gap, employing strategies he had learned from training and experience in hunting inheritances. He launched small spiritual energy traps, forcing the guardian to move in the direction he desired.
Yet, the guardian was no ordinary creature. Each time Bai Tian attempted to approach, he felt walls of energy holding him back. He knew one mistake could cost him his life. Gasping for breath, Bai Tian searched for a weakness—a single point to exploit.
He realized a tense truth: this door guardian could move at will, penetrate formations, and strike at any time. The pressure made his heart pound, yet his resolve remained steadfast.
"This… must succeed," he whispered softly, his voice nearly drowned by the surrounding energy rumble. With gathered courage, Bai Tian leaped, channeling all his power into a decisive strike, piercing the guardian's strong defense.
The attack hit its mark. With a blinding energy explosion, one of the guardian's legs was severed. Bai Tian seized the momentum. The push from his body and the guardian's tumble allowed him to hold the guardian's limb, creating a gap to step through the stone door.
As soon as he crossed the threshold, Bai Tian felt cold air and a mysterious aura welcoming him—a sign that the hidden treasure and secrets he sought were now right before him. He smiled faintly, knowing his struggle had borne fruit.
Inside the stone door, Bai Tian found a small house that seemed simple, yet the aura around it felt strange and full of mystery. He stepped calmly and steadily toward it, every movement filled with caution but without haste.
Suddenly, an illusion appeared before him. Faint images showed various events he had experienced—as if the room were testing his weaknesses, examining his determination and resilience. Bai Tian focused, undisturbed. The illusions kept changing, scene by scene, yet he stepped forward without hesitation.
Unnoticed, the illusions gradually collapsed, replaced by total darkness. The once lively room was now silent and empty, without sound, without direction, only a dense darkness challenging his courage.
Bai Tian exhaled, calming himself for a moment, then opened his eyes. Resolutely, he continued deeper into the darkness, navigating the hidden mysteries of the small house with his heart and instincts.
Bai Tian went further, the darkness swallowing every sound around him. Yet he remained vigilant, every sense alert to detect hidden energies or threats.
In the middle of the room, a small table appeared from the darkness, on which lay several strange objects faintly glittering. There were old scrolls, bottles containing glowing liquid, and a small tightly closed box. Bai Tian knew these were not mere decorations—they were all inheritances or clues.
As Bai Tian approached, a gentle vibration was felt beneath the old wooden floor. The table seemed alive, protected by an invisible energy. On it lay a wooden box emanating a mysterious aura, signaling it was no ordinary box.
Bai Tian thought hard, trying to find a way to penetrate it. He tried various methods, using spiritual energy and techniques he had learned, but all were in vain. The protection was too strong, impenetrable. Slowly, frustration began to emerge, and for a moment, he felt despair.
Shaking off the disappointment, Bai Tian decided to explore other parts of the small house. He entered a room that resembled an old library. Without hesitation, his greed surfaced—he immediately took the ancient scrolls, books, and notes, investigating everything quickly, absorbing as much information as possible.
Satisfied with the library, Bai Tian entered another room. There, he was momentarily stunned: skeletal remains embracing each other, as if the couple stayed together even in death. His eyes focused on the rings they wore, and temptation arose. Without thinking, he bent down and took the rings, then with a heavy heart, reburied the bones as a sign of respect.
After exploring the house, Bai Tian returned to the first table. His gaze fixed on the same wooden box—the protection was unchanged, still impenetrable. Annoyed and slightly frustrated, he swung his sword casually, following techniques described in classical manuals.
But the longer he swung, the stronger the box's protective energy became. His movements grew more natural and precise, yet the protection remained unbroken.
In a near-desperate situation, Bai Tian gathered all his strength, gripping his sword with both hands, and swung it straight with full power. As the sword moved, he saw faint glowing lines in the air—seemingly marking weak points in the protection.
He focused on the faintest line. With bated breath and full determination, Bai Tian sliced it precisely. A soft energy explosion occurred instantly, and the table's protection collapsed—vanishing completely. The wooden box was now open, revealing its long-hidden contents.
Bai Tian smiled faintly. His effort was not in vain—perseverance, courage, and focus had finally allowed him to penetrate what seemed an impossible defense.
Bai Tian took a deep breath and slowly opened the wooden box he had struggled to unlock. Yet inside, he found only a plain ancient sheet of paper, without symbols, writings, or any discernible marks.
He stared at the paper for a moment, a sense of disappointment and resignation washing over him. All his efforts, perseverance, and struggle to penetrate the strong protection seemed in vain. Yet Bai Tian knew, simple as it seemed, the item surely carried meaning—every inheritance comes with its own trial.
With calm yet heavy steps, he stored the paper in his personal storage space, realizing that he had finally decided to leave.