Ling Feng glared fiercely at the mountain peak, realizing he had no chance of ascending.
Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators patrolled all directions around the clock. Even if his Invisibility Talisman could hold for a while, it wouldn't allow him to make a safe round trip.
*I refuse to believe that lecherous Ji Chang could resist the Young Lady's charms!*
Ling Feng's heart raced at the memory of Luo Nichang's captivating allure in that semi-sheer palace gown.
His gaze toward the mountain peak now burned with longing.
*Who wouldn't want to be a Second-Generation Cultivator—rich, powerful, and able to do whatever they please?*
***
The next day at noon, the Divine Dao Sect's Martial Arena was abuzz with activity.
As the foremost power in the Western Wilderness, the Divine Dao Sect was revered as a sacred ground by countless cultivators. Even the Ji Clan, another top-tier force, outwardly deferred to the Divine Dao Sect's prestige.
After all, the Divine Dao Sect had openly revealed two Transformation God Heavenly Monarchs within the past millennium, while the Ji Clan could only claim one ancestral figure suspected of having reached the Transformation God realm. Moreover, since the Divine Dao Sect wasn't a family-based organization, its scale far surpassed that of the Ji Clan.
Naturally, joining such an elite sect was no easy feat. A minimum of three Spirit Roots was a strict requirement, and even possessing a Mid-Grade Spirit Root alone would be enough to pass the Inner Sect entrance trials of most ordinary sects and factions. Yet within the Divine Dao Sect, this only qualified one for the Outer Sect. Beyond this, there were also stringent age and cultivation level restrictions.
To enter the Inner Sect, disciples had to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty-five. Furthermore, only those who forged a Mid-Grade Dao Foundation or higher would be admitted to the Inner Sect; those with lower-grade foundations or who achieved Foundation Establishment after the age limit could only serve as Outer Sect Stewards. While theoretically holding equal status to Inner Sect disciples, their actual privileges and benefits were worlds apart.
Though the conditions were harsh, the vast resources allocated to the most promising talents ensured the Divine Dao Sect's enduring prosperity, maintaining its position as the dominant force in the Western Wilderness for ten millennia. Among its ranks were countless Commoner Prodigies and True Monarchs who had risen from humble origins as Free Cultivators.
True Inheritance Disciples of the Divine Dao Sect, also known as "True Person Seeds," had a high probability of becoming Golden Core True Persons if they avoided early death. Among them, several would even transform into Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
This was the Dragon Gate in the eyes of many Inner Sect disciples.
Yet, across ten millennia, even a powerhouse like the Divine Dao Sect couldn't escape internal bloat and the tangled web of factions and power struggles.
For the past eight centuries, almost all True Inheritance candidates had come from disciples with powerful backing. Everyone assumed this year would be no different.
Then, a dark horse emerged!
Ling Feng, an ordinary ascetic who diligently cultivated within the Inner Sect, undertaking tasks and enduring trials, had eliminated numerous renowned Inner Sect experts one by one, overcoming five hurdles and vanquishing six generals to reach the final round.
In the past, a cultivator with an Upper-Grade Dao Foundation, Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, and mastery of a perfected Dharma technique would indeed have a chance at securing a True Inheritance position.
Alas, he had encountered Ji Chang.
Thinking of this, many Inner Sect elites cast pitying glances at Ling Feng on the Martial Arena.
Clad in a black Daoist Robe, his face was stern and imposing, exuding the aura of a true master. Yet, before *that* person, he was destined to be mere scenery.
Of course, to ordinary Inner Sect disciples unaware of these undercurrents, Ling Feng was their idol.
"Senior Brother Ling, you can do it!"
"At just twenty-three, he's already passed the True Inheritance Trial and defeated several of the Inner Sect's top ten experts! Senior Brother Ling will definitely become a True Inheritance disciple!"
"Exactly! Senior Brother Ling Feng is the perfect role model for us disciples of Humble Origin!"
***
Compared to the Outer Sect Disciples and the ordinary cultivators who couldn't even join the Divine Dao Sect, every Inner Sect member was considered a genius.
But the world was never short of geniuses. As a line from Ji Chang's past life's game went, "Supreme King" was merely the threshold to glimpse divinity.
Without superior Spirit Tools, more powerful Cultivation Techniques, or abundant Spirit Stones, the gap between Humble Origin disciples and those from prestigious backgrounds would only widen.
Talent alone couldn't bridge this divide—at least, not for most Humble Origin geniuses.
Yet now, someone had managed to do just that, naturally resonating with their own struggles.
Unbeknownst to them, the noble cultivators across the way, resplendent in their ornate Daoist Robes, wore mocking expressions.
*A Commoner Prodigy who has overcome five trials and slain six generals?*
All he's earned is the right to face *that* person.
They knew Ji Chang hadn't even undergone a proper True Inheritance Trial. If he wanted to compete for True Inheritance, he could do so at any time.
Poor Ling Feng—he just happened to cross paths with *that* person and was defeated. Now he'd have to wait years. *That* was what they called a single misstep leading to a cascade of failures!
Silently waiting on the Martial Arena, Ling Feng focused intently on regulating his breathing and magical power, awaiting the arrival of his opponent. The whispers and murmurs around him couldn't shake his composure in the slightest.
Until his gaze swept across the crowd and landed on a familiar, striking figure.
*Whoosh!*
His usually steady breathing faltered momentarily.
Just as he had seen her at dawn yesterday, Luo Nichang, the foster mother who had raised him, appeared haggard, her hair disheveled, her breathing unsteady, and her gait unsteady. A distinct palm print marred her alluring face.
*What inhuman treatment had she endured last night?!*
Yet despite everything, the Young Lady had still come to watch his match.
A wave of guilt washed over Ling Feng, disrupting his composure once more.
But it was only a momentary lapse. After silently reciting the Clear Heart Mantra several times, he quickly regained his composure.
*I'm sorry, Young Lady. I promise to treat you better from now on and avenge you!*
Last night, after his failed attempt to infiltrate the mountain peak, he hadn't retreated. Instead, he had waited at the foot of the mountain until dawn, when he saw Luo Nichang emerge, her hair disheveled, dressed in an ordinary Daoist robe, and walking with a limp, her face swollen. Only then did he finally set aside his worries.
Today, he was determined to win the True Inheritance Trial!
Although he hadn't lost his virginity yet, his age had afforded him ample opportunities to learn about such matters. Judging by the Young Lady's disheveled state, she had clearly suffered a terrible assault. When the poison was triggered at a crucial moment, he would undoubtedly emerge victorious.
Moreover, regardless of the means, the ultimate outcome would be his victory over the highly-regarded Ji Chang. This triumph would undoubtedly elevate his standing in the eyes of the sect's elders and secure him greater resources. Compared to such gains, the sacrifices he'd made seemed trivial.
Time ticked by, and as the appointed hour drew near, Ji Chang had yet to appear. The audience began to stir with impatience, and even the observing sect elders frowned.
*Still running away?* Just as the thought crossed his mind, a collective gasp erupted.
"He's here!"
"Senior Brother Ji is here!"
"Such a powerful aura! Has Senior Brother Ji already broken through to the late Foundation Establishment Stage?"
*Thud... Thud... Thud...*
The measured footsteps seemed ordinary, but every cultivator present, even the weakest among them being at the Foundation Establishment Stage, could sense the hidden force building with each step. Each footfall grew heavier than the last.
An ordinary cultivator lacking exceptional willpower and mental fortitude would have had their Dao Heart shaken by these steps, left sweating profusely, and their combat strength diminished by thirty percent.
"Impressive."
"So this is True Monarch Ji's son? Like father, like son."
"That Ling Feng disciple on the opposite side is quite remarkable too."