Wu Ming remained standing in the heart of his Inner Scroll World. This time, he was no longer merely feeling or making slight adjustments; he sensed a connection far deeper than ever before.
Every particle of this dimensional world-from the endless mountain peaks, rivers flowing so deep their beds could not be seen, forests stretching to the horizon, down to the dust motes and drifting clouds-responded directly to his will. Not merely acknowledging it, but seemingly yielding to his intent.
The first sensation that coursed through his mind was one of absolute, profound calm. It was as if everything around him had paused, waiting. Every sound-the babbling of water, the rustle of wind, the grind of stone against stone-transformed into music that resonated perfectly with his heartbeat.
The rhythm and melody of the world aligned seamlessly with his thoughts and intentions, without conflict.
Yet above all, he felt the pure power of owning this Inner Scroll World. This power was not merely destructive; it was mastery, control, and absolute adaptation. He needed not command or force it-the Scroll World itself adjusted to his will.
The sensation was akin to knowing that every movement, every element within the dimension-even a single speck of dust-lay fully within his perception and authority.
With a slight movement of his hand, mountains bent, rivers altered their courses, soil and stone trembled, adjusting in harmony with his consciousness. He did not need to channel his full cultivation.
Everything responded automatically, as if the world itself recognized him as its sole master.
In that instant, a profound understanding settled in Wu Ming's mind: with the Inner Scroll World fully possessed, he was invincible within his dimension. Nothing could disturb or shatter his control. Even storms, torrential rains, or violent shifts of terrain would bow to his will.
He felt the eternity of this power.
Every particle of the dimension obeyed him; creation or destruction could occur by thought alone. Every tremor, every movement of this world was "sensed" by him before it happened, as if nothing could occur without his permission.
"Yet Wu Ming remained mindful"
this invincibility existed only within the bounds of his Scroll World. Outside, uncertainty remained. The real world was not bound by his possession of this dimension.
But within this Inner Scroll World, he was unmatched. Anyone daring to challenge his authority would face the total chaos of the dimension itself, adjusting to him with every breath, every motion.
Every subtle shift of thought, every gesture, caused the Scroll World to respond as if it were a sentient being sharing his singular will.
This feeling gave him profound stability and insight: his power was not merely cultivation or spirit-it was the fusion, the oneness with his dimension.
Wu Ming drew a deep breath.
The silence of the Inner Scroll World became a harmony of consciousness and dimension.
Everything around him glimmered, expressing acceptance and complete responsiveness to him. Though he could not yet wield his power to its full extent, the ability to command the Scroll World invincibly within its own bounds had already been realized.
Even if he could not immediately call upon destructive power or control everything, the feeling that dominated him was certainty: when he was ready, this Scroll World would become a weapon, a fortress no force could resist. This was the gift of fully possessing a Scroll World-reserved only for those who could truly comprehend and merge with it.
"All right...enough learning and feeling. It's time to return to the outside world," he murmured softly, gradually gathering his mental energy, arranging a path to exit the Inner Scroll World.
Even in the first step out of his dimension, he felt the wind brush past him, as if whispering: this is only the beginning of merging will and Scroll World.
There was still much to learn, yet today, he knew-he already possessed the power and understanding to truly begin this journey.
After successfully merging his body, will, and soul into one with the Inner Scroll World, Wu Ming immediately rushed out toward the outside world. However, he was still within the Secret Realm.
Whoosh-
The distorted ripple of space twisted open in the silent night, revealing the figure of a young man stepping out from the turbulent dimensional current.
Wu Ming:
"Now that I have completely fused with the Scroll World, if I can continuously draw upon the energy within it, then my power can practically be considered limitless. Whether it is the amount of spiritual qi, soul force, or even the energy of Heaven and Earth."
He clenched his fist firmly, setting his mind toward his next goal.
"After successfully merging with the Scroll World, I can now clearly perceive the surrounding laws. Even the structural frameworks of these trials... I can see through them entirely, as if they were nothing more than faint illusions."
Using his sharp gaze, he examined every structure within this place.
At last-he found it.
"Found it!"
"It seems the exit lies at the very end of this massive hall. Previously it was concealed beneath strange laws that distort space and time, making it nearly impossible to detect... but now, such concealment is meaningless before me."
Yet Wu Ming did not leave immediately.
Instead, he remained quietly seated, waiting for his companions.
Not long after, he sensed two shadows suddenly appear within the hall where he sat in meditation. He recognized them instantly.
Zhang Yun... and Lun Fu?
When the two of them realized that someone else was already inside the hall, they froze awkwardly.
After all, earlier they had fled and left Wu Ming behind to face the terrifying demon Long Tu alone.
And now, they stood before the very man who had fought that dreadful demon head-on.
Cold sweat slowly formed on Zhang Yun's forehead.
He began to panic, worrying that Wu Ming might have come here seeking revenge. Immediately, he hurriedly spoke.
Zhang Yun:
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! To think that you survived the terrifying demon Long Tu-your martial prowess and skill are truly extraordinary, unmatched beneath the heavens! I am truly relieved to see that you are still alive. It eases my heart to know that a fellow companion has survived."
Lun Fu, standing beside him, revealed a dark expression upon hearing those words.
He could hardly believe what he had just heard.
This guy... can twist the truth this shamelessly?
However, Lun Fu also dared not remain silent.
He quickly followed up with his own explanation.
Lun Fu:
"What Fellow Daoist Zhang Yun says is correct. Being able to meet a companion who has walked through life and death together with us is truly a fortunate thing."
"At that time, I felt both regret and sorrow that we could not remain behind to fight alongside Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. But I feared that if Zhang Yun and I had stayed any longer... we might only have become a burden to him."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun's eyes widened in shock.
Inside, he nearly cursed in terror and frustration.
What is this idiot saying?!
Is he trying to get us killed?!
Why would he openly mention that we fled? If Wu Ming suddenly decides to kill us... we'll both die here for sure!
Despite the turmoil in his mind, Zhang Yun tried his best to maintain a calm and friendly expression.
He continued speaking carefully, attempting to persuade Wu Ming to forget the previous events.
Wu Ming, however, remained silent.
He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating without saying a single word.
Seeing this, Zhang Yun and Lun Fu both began to wonder anxiously whether Wu Ming was considering their words-deciding whether to forgive them or treat them as enemies.
But their assumptions were completely wrong.
While they were filled with worry, Wu Ming was thinking of something entirely different.
Wu Ming (inwardly)
"It seems the time is almost here."
"I can sense movements approaching rapidly from three directions. They will likely arrive within a few breaths."
He slowly exhaled.
When Zhang Yun and Lun Fu saw this, both of them secretly sighed in relief, thinking they had been forgiven.
Zhang Yun quickly spoke again.
Zhang Yun: "Yes, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. The past should remain in the past. We are still companions traveling the same path-bound by honor, dignity, and trust. Please rest assured, for the two of us are men of integrity."
He spoke with a tone of exaggerated pride.
Lun Fu had no choice but to go along with Zhang Yun's words.
Suddenly-
A voice echoed through the silent hall.
It reverberated across the entire chamber, filled with unmistakable mockery and ridicule.
"Hahaha! Since when did the two of you become so skilled at sweet-talking others?"
"Even during my time walking the Demonic Path, I have never encountered a demon with tongues as smooth and dazzling as yours."
"Hahahahaha!"
The voice laughed with blatant contempt, clearly mocking the words spoken by Zhang Yun and Lun Fu.
Fury immediately appeared on Zhang Yun's face.
Zhang Yun:
"Who are you to dare slander us like this?! If you have the courage, show yourself!"
The voice responded instantly.
"Why wouldn't I?"
From the dark corridor, a figure slowly stepped forward.
Gradually, his form became clear.
Zhang Yun and Lun Fu trembled with fear.
Neither dared speak another word.
Suddenly-
A voice echoed through the silent hall.
It reverberated across the entire chamber, filled with unmistakable mockery and ridicule.
"Hahaha! Since when did the two of you become so skilled at sweet-talking others?"
"Even during my time walking the Demonic Path, I have never encountered a demon with tongues as smooth and dazzling as yours."
"Hahahahaha!"
The voice laughed with blatant contempt, clearly mocking the words spoken by Zhang Yun and Lun Fu.
Fury immediately appeared on Zhang Yun's face.
Zhang Yun:
"Who are you to dare slander us like this?! If you have the courage, show yourself!"
The voice responded instantly.
"Why wouldn't I?"
From the dark corridor, a figure slowly stepped forward.
Gradually, his form became clear.
Zhang Yun and Lun Fu trembled with fear.
Neither dared speak another word.
Because the man standing before them was-
Yin Tian.
Zhang Yun:
"Y-Y-You... Yin Tian?!"
Yin Tian spoke coldly.
His voice carried a chilling killing intent and a suffocating darkness.
Yin Tian:
"So what if it is me?"
"Or perhaps the two of you are simply overwhelmed with joy at meeting another traveling companion?"
Lun Fu could no longer hide his fear.
This man practiced a brutal and terrifying demonic art. If he made a move, survival would likely be impossible.
Zhang Yun, however, quickly regained his composure and forced a submissive, flattering expression.
Not long after, two more figures appeared.
They were none other than Yan Lan and Ling Yu.
When Yan Lan saw that Zhang Yun and Lun Fu were still alive, she could not hold back her fury.
She spat out harsh curses, her anger blazing.
After all, these two had abandoned them and fled.
A fierce killing intent erupted from her body.
Yet beside her, Ling Yu remained calm-like an iceberg.
He said nothing.
His youthful face was tranquil and unmoved, as if untouched by the surrounding anger.
The killing intent that Yan Lan released filled the entire hall.
The temperature of the air seemed to drop by several degrees.
Zhang Yun felt his back grow cold.
Lun Fu's legs nearly gave out beneath him.
Yan Lan stepped forward slowly, her eyes sharp like drawn blades.
"Zhang Yun... Lun Fu."
Her voice was calm, yet the anger hidden beneath it was unmistakable.
"Tell me something."
"When the demon Long Tu appeared... why were the first two people to run away... the two of you?"
Her words were simple.
But every syllable struck like a hammer.
Zhang Yun immediately forced a laugh, though his voice trembled slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Yan Lan... there must be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?"
Yan Lan's eyes narrowed.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Lun Fu hurriedly stepped forward.
"No, no! That is not what we meant!"
He raised both hands quickly, trying to calm the situation.
"At that moment the demon's aura was overwhelming. If the three of us had remained there, we would have only created chaos on the battlefield."
He glanced nervously toward Wu Ming before continuing.
"We believed... that Fellow Daoist Wu Ming possessed the strength to stall the demon for a short time."
"So we decided to search for the exit of the trial instead!"
"If we could find a way out, we could return with reinforcements!"
Yan Lan stared at him for a long moment.
Then she laughed coldly.
"A noble excuse."
"But it sounds exactly like the kind of lie cowards would tell."
Yin Tian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly chuckled.
"Hahaha..."
He leaned lazily against a stone pillar.
"You two truly are talented."
"If smooth words alone were enough to survive in the cultivation world, perhaps you would already be emperors."
Zhang Yun's expression stiffened.
But he dared not argue.
Because the pressure radiating from Yin Tian was terrifying.
It was like standing before a hungry beast.
Yin Tian's gaze slowly swept over the two trembling men.
"In my eyes... traitors are worse than enemies."
His voice grew colder.
"Enemies attack you from the front."
"But traitors stab you in the back."
A faint black aura began to swirl around his fingers.
Lun Fu's heart skipped a beat.
He knew exactly what that meant.
Yin Tian was about to make a move.
Yan Lan did not stop him.
In fact, she looked almost interested to see what would happen.
The tension in the hall rose sharply.
Just when the atmosphere was about to explode-
A calm voice sounded.
"That is enough."
Wu Ming finally opened his eyes.
His tone was neither loud nor forceful.
Yet the moment he spoke, the invisible pressure filling the hall seemed to soften slightly.
Everyone turned toward him.
Wu Ming slowly stood up.
His gaze passed over Zhang Yun and Lun Fu briefly before shifting toward Yin Tian.
"There is no need to waste time on them."
Yin Tian frowned slightly.
"Oh?"
"And why not?"
Wu Ming answered calmly.
"The trial is ending soon."
"The spatial formations throughout the inheritance grounds have already begun to shift."
"If we delay any longer... the exit may not remain stable."
Yan Lan crossed her arms.
"And how would you know that?"
Wu Ming paused for a moment before answering.
"Observation."
"When I was searching this hall earlier, I noticed several irregularities within the spatial currents."
"The fluctuations have been increasing steadily."
"This usually means the trial is nearing its conclusion."
Ling Yu, who had been silent like a statue until now, finally spoke.
"...He is correct."
His calm voice echoed softly.
"The spiritual flow here has been growing unstable."
"Something within the formation is changing."
Yin Tian glanced toward Ling Yu, then back to Wu Ming.
The dark aura around his fingers slowly faded.
"Hmph."
"Very well."
He gave Zhang Yun and Lun Fu a cold look.
"Consider yourselves fortunate today."
Zhang Yun nearly collapsed in relief.
Lun Fu quickly bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Yan Lan clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"What a disappointment."
"But fine."
She turned away.
"For now."
Wu Ming then walked toward the far end of the hall.
The others followed.
After a short distance, he stopped in front of what appeared to be an empty stone wall.
Zhang Yun blinked.
"Wait... the exit is here?"
Wu Ming did not answer immediately.
Instead he reached forward and lightly touched the air.
Ripples spread outward.
The empty space distorted like water.
Moments later-
A swirling gate of light appeared.
Everyone stared.
Even Yin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Interesting."
Yan Lan looked at Wu Ming curiously.
"How did you find this place?"
Wu Ming withdrew his hand.
"During my search earlier, I released small threads of spiritual sense throughout the hall."
"Eventually I discovered that all the spatial currents in this trial were subtly converging here."
"So I waited."
Ling Yu spoke quietly.
"...You were drawing people here."
Wu Ming gave a faint smile.
"I merely released a small pulse of spiritual qi earlier."
"If someone strong enough sensed it, they would naturally follow the disturbance."
"Inheritance trials often hide their final gateways at the point where the strongest cultivators gather."
"So bringing everyone together here... increases the chances of opening the exit."
Yan Lan nodded slowly.
"That actually makes sense."
Yin Tian looked at Wu Ming thoughtfully.
For a moment, he felt that something about this explanation was incomplete.
But he could not find any flaw in it.
So he said nothing.
Wu Ming then stepped toward the portal.
"The path is open."
"No matter what happened earlier... the trial is already over."
He glanced briefly at Zhang Yun and Lun Fu.
"You may leave."
The two men looked stunned.
They clearly had not expected such mercy.
Without another word, Wu Ming stepped into the gate.
The others followed.
Light swallowed their figures.
Moments later-
They appeared outside.
The inheritance trial had ended.
Before them stretched the vast Secret Realm, where countless cultivators had gathered.
Above the sky floated a massive spiritual formation announcing the next stage.
The Genius Competition.
Only one day remained before its conclusion.
Wu Ming looked toward the distant arena.
Wu Ming suddenly spoke.
"It seems that the Genius Competition only has one day remaining."
After saying that, he turned around and looked at the others before continuing calmly,
"We should part ways here."
"Each of us walks our own path. As for the opportunities we obtained within the Secret Realm, there is no need for anyone to ask about them. Those chances belong to the ones who obtained them, and they are the fortunes that each of you encountered through your own destiny."
He paused briefly before speaking again.
"Let us separate here."
"After all, we may still meet again in the final stage of the Genius Competition. If we can all survive until the last round... then perhaps it would not be strange for fate to arrange another encounter between us."
When everyone heard those words, they immediately understood his meaning.
No one questioned him.
One by one, they nodded and departed in different directions, leaving the place behind.
Yet there was still one person who remained standing where she was.
Wu Ming felt slightly surprised.
His gaze shifted toward her.
"Yan Lan... why have you not left yet?"
He asked with a puzzled expression, unable to understand why she was still lingering here.
Yan Lan seemed slightly hesitant for a moment before speaking.
Her usual confidence appeared somewhat different now.
"If... any of us were to meet again in the final round of the Genius Competition-whether it is you or me..."
She paused briefly.
"...would it be possible for me to ask you for a favor?"
Wu Ming looked at her calmly before replying.
"I am willing to help companions who once risked their lives together with me."
"As long as the matter does not exceed the limits of my ability."
When Yan Lan heard his answer, a bright smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Good."
"That is all I needed to know."
She laughed softly.
"Well then... if that time truly comes, I will tell you what I need."
"Hehe."
With a playful chuckle, she turned around.
Her sword flew out beneath her feet.
In the next moment, she stepped onto the blade and rose into the air.
Like a streak of light cutting across the sky, Yan Lan's figure quickly disappeared into the distant horizon.
Wu Ming watched the direction she left for a brief moment.
Then he quietly turned his gaze toward the distant arena of the Secret Realm.
...
...
...
The fabric was dark as night, with faint ancient patterns woven across its surface like drifting shadows. When the wind brushed against it, the banner seemed to ripple unnaturally, as if the darkness within it were alive.
Zhang Yun's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"This treasure... is definitely not ordinary."
He had discovered it deep within a ruined chamber during the inheritance trial.
At that time, the banner had been sealed inside an ancient stone altar.
Even the faint aura leaking from it had felt strange.
Although Zhang Yun had not yet fully refined it, he could already sense that the banner possessed unusual abilities.
He lightly infused a thread of spiritual energy into the flag.
Immediately-
The black banner trembled.
A thin veil of dark mist spread quietly around him.
The shadows of the surrounding trees stretched longer.
Even the sound of the wind seemed to grow faint.
Zhang Yun's eyes widened slightly.
"So it really works..."
One of the banner's basic abilities had revealed itself earlier.
It could distort the surrounding shadows and conceal the presence of its owner.
Although the effect was not perfect, it could confuse spiritual senses and blur the user's aura within the darkness.
To someone fleeing for their life...
It was an extremely valuable ability.
Zhang Yun chuckled softly.
"With this thing... even if someone tries to track me, it won't be easy."
But just as those words left his mouth-
A cold voice suddenly echoed from the darkness behind him.
"Is that so?"
Zhang Yun's entire body froze.
His pupils shrank violently.
Slowly...
He turned around.
From within the shadows of the forest, a tall figure stepped forward.
Black spiritual energy drifted faintly around him like smoke.
It was Yin Tian.
Zhang Yun felt as if his heart had dropped into an icy abyss.
"Y-You...!"
"How... how did you find me?!"
Yin Tian looked at him with mild amusement.
"You ran quite far."
His tone was calm.
"But running far does not mean running well."
Zhang Yun instinctively tightened his grip on the black banner.
His mind raced wildly.
Impossible.
He had clearly taken several detours.
He had even concealed his aura.
So how did Yin Tian still find him?
Yin Tian seemed to read the confusion on his face.
"You are wondering how I tracked you."
He smiled faintly.
"In truth, it was quite simple."
"When someone runs away in fear... they leave behind many traces without realizing it."
Zhang Yun's expression turned pale.
Yin Tian slowly raised a hand.
Dark spiritual power gathered around his fingers.
"To be honest, I originally planned to kill both of you earlier."
"But Wu Ming interfered."
His gaze turned colder.
"So I decided... to wait."
"And now-"
"You are alone."
The killing intent in the air surged instantly.
Zhang Yun's heart pounded wildly.
He knew that if he stayed, he would die without question.
Without hesitation, he immediately poured spiritual energy into the black banner.
"Move!"
The banner flapped violently.
A thick wave of black mist exploded outward.
The surrounding forest instantly darkened as shadows twisted and overlapped like living creatures.
For a brief moment-
Zhang Yun's aura completely disappeared.
Even his figure seemed to dissolve into the darkness.
Yin Tian narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Oh?"
"That banner..."
"Interesting."
But he did not panic.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Because he knew something Zhang Yun did not.
No matter how cleverly a rabbit hides...
It can never escape the claws of a true predator.
And this hunt-
Had only just begun.