“And, when the main body set up the Restriction back then, if one couldn't pass the Trial and obtain the Legacy, there was only one outcome: death.”
“But I passed, didn't I?”
“But you can't get the Legacy, so you will still die.”
“But you said I passed. Can't you make an exception?”
The man shook his head, “I am merely a remnant Soul left by the main body; I cannot violate the Restriction set by the main body.”
“Alright then.” Changqing said, somewhat relieved, “How will I die?”
“Those drawn into the Trial Grounds will have the Qingyuan Skill forcibly engraved into their bodies. This Cultivation Technique is essentially a type of Poison Law, and the essence of Poison Law is flow and transformation. You will be continuously injected with the vast Spiritual Qi left by the main body until your body explodes and you die.”
Changqing nodded calmly, “Alright, I understand.”
“I have one more question: why is the condition for participating in the Trial a Fleeting Rotation? What was the Hundred Flowers Evil Saint's intention in setting this Restriction?”
Huo Jiutian shook his head, “The actual Restriction condition isn't a Fleeting Rotation. Instead, it's that those participating in the Trial must not have cultivated any other Cultivation Technique, and must be capable of having the Qingyuan Skill engraved upon them. Only in this way can they become the main body's successor.”
“Didn't the main body consider what would happen if someone used Soul Cleansing Dew?”
“What is Soul Cleansing Dew?”
Changqing understood. It seemed that in the era a hundred thousand years ago, Soul Cleansing Dew, this type of Imperial Spirit, didn't exist. The Hundred Flowers Evil Saint's original intention was for the trial-taker to become his successor, which is why he required a Fleeting Rotation to participate in the Trial.
So, who exactly was the person who stole his Legacy?
The greatest possibility was that Luo Hongyan had an accident. She didn't guard the Trial Grounds well, and someone else broke in and participated in the Trial at the same time he was participating.
Who was this person? Was Luo Hongyan still safe?
Most likely, it was a bad omen.
So, in the next life, what should he do?
“Forget it.” He sighed, “These matters, I'll save them for the next life.”
Seeing him close his eyes, Huo Jiutian said with some reluctance.
“You are a respectable man. You passed the Trial. In the main body's memory, I have never seen anyone as resolute as you. Do you have any wishes? Within this illusion, I can help you fulfill them.”
Changqing thought for a moment and looked at Luo Hongyan, who had white hair and a face full of wrinkles.
“Please remove the poison for me. I want to experience what it's like to be a normal person one last time.”
The man nodded.
When he appeared, the entire world turned black and white, and time seemed to freeze. And the moment he nodded, he also disappeared, and the entire world regained its colors.
Changqing only felt a heavy burden, something he had carried his entire life, which had once suffocated him, now finally dissipated.
He was too tired.
He carefully observed the old woman in front of him. She indeed looked very old, no longer possessing her former beauty, but for the first time, Changqing felt that the feeling she gave him was so wonderful, like a spring breeze.
He held Luo Hongyan's withered hand and fell asleep.
......
Feeling the Spiritual Qi in Changqing's body suddenly surge, Dan Ji in his mind became flustered.
“Damn it! What's going on! Did the Trial fail! If this continues, this kid will explode and die!”
“If he undergoes Rebirth, will I, this old woman, be Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering with his body?”
“Damn it, I hope this kid's Natal Imperial Spirit can withstand this.”
Just as she was pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan in Changqing's mind, she suddenly heard a majestic voice.
“Xiao Chanjuan, come with me.”
Dan Ji's Soul trembled violently.
Her five senses were the same as Changqing's. Now that Changqing's eyes were closed, she couldn't see the source of the voice, but she felt fortunate for it.
But the next moment, her vision suddenly cleared.
Dan Ji unbelievably lowered her head and looked at her hands.
Fair and slender, not Changqing's distinctly jointed hands; these were clearly her own hands.
The flowing white hair behind her and the heavy objects on her chest also confirmed this.
“Xiao Chanjuan, I command your Soul to temporarily return to your body. Would you please go out and guard the door for me?”
The female voice came again. Although the tone was gentle, it carried an undeniable majesty, as if it were a true word from the primordial era, making it impossible to refuse.
She couldn't help but tremble all over, her legs went weak, and she almost sat on the ground.
That was a Soul-level pressure, not the fear her human rationality told her, but her primal instinctual fear as a living being. It was as if a mouse saw a cat, or a lamb saw a wolf, only able to prostrate itself on the ground, unable to muster any thought of resistance.
She gathered her courage and looked towards the source of the voice, but she froze instantly.
That was... Luo Hongyan?
At this moment, Luo Hongyan was no longer the gentle person she once was; her entire demeanor had undergone a drastic change.
Two clusters of blue flames burned in her eye sockets, and she was bathed in boundless black Qi, with wisps of solidified Souls fluttering around her.
She was like the Grim Reaper in charge of the underworld, exuding a majestic and cold aura.
“Don't just stand there, Xiao Chanjuan. Go out, close the door tightly, and don't let anyone disturb us.”
“Luo Hongyan” softly gave orders while slowly walking to the throne where Changqing was seated. With a light tap of her finger, countless vines entanglement around Changqing spontaneously ignited, instantly burning to ashes by the blue flames, revealing Changqing within.
“Do not see, do not hear, do not smell, do not speak. I will call you when you may enter.”
“Luo Hongyan” instructed.
Dan Ji dared not neglect, she knelt and kowtowed. The other party told her “Do not speak,” so she didn't even dare to say “As you command” before hastily retreating outside the door.
Firmly closing the door, she finally leaned against it, cold sweat soaking her entire body.
What was that thing!
Haigu? Desolation? Eternal?
There were no Great Emperors of the Eternal Realm in this era, and she had never seen a Great Emperor.
No, impossible. Even a powerful Great Emperor is human, but that was not a power a human could possess; that was a monster!
What was she going to do? Kill Changqing? She could do it with a blink of an eye!
Was she going to save Changqing? Such an existence could save this wild boy in an instant, couldn't she?
Speaking of which, did such an existence even need someone to guard the door? Wouldn't anyone who entered be seeking death?
So why did it specifically ask her to come out? Did it not want to be disturbed? What exactly was it going to do!
Should I escape?
No, I can't. I'll die. It told me to guard here. If I dare to escape, I will definitely die!
......
Outside the hall, Dan Ji was suffering in endless anxiety and fear, while inside the hall, Luo Hongyan knelt on the ground, resting Changqing's head on her lap, gently stroking his face.
“Qing, I didn't expect you to become like this.”
She took a light breath, and the Spiritual Qi continuously flowing into Changqing's body changed its course like a flowing river, turning to flow into her body.
And Changqing's body at this time was swollen like a balloon, every muscle engorged and bulging, his whole body crimson, the abundant Spiritual Qi pushing him to the brink of exploding and dying.
Luo Hongyan sighed softly, “This Legacy should have belonged to you. It was my oversight.”
“Don't worry, I will definitely save you.”