Chapter 66: The Inheritance Opened Ahead of Time

"It really is you!"

"The Sword Sovereign Token is actually radiating a golden light. In the past century, you are likely the only one who could provoke such a reaction from it."

"Quickly, do not resist! This is the guiding radiance of the Sword Sovereign Token; just step right inside. This golden light is practically handing the legacy to you on a silver platter!"

Overwhelmed by the pale golden light emanating from the Sword Sovereign Token, Xu Ruyan was rendered speechless.

She had come to find Yang Le this evening for one reason only.

As one of the guides for the ninety-nine Sword Sovereign Tokens, Xu Ruyan was extremely sensitive to everything concerning them.

Although she herself could not enter the tokens to receive the legacy, she had the ability to select suitable inheritors to enter.

The closer it got to the opening of the Sword Sovereign Token legacy, the more sensitive Xu Ruyan became.

Last night, even though she had not left this small courtyard, she had seen the thousand-meter-tall sword shadow soaring over Linqing City with absolute clarity.

Even from a great distance, she could feel the surging sword intent within it.

In an instant, the figure of Yang Le had flashed through Xu Ruyan's mind, though she remained uncertain at the time.

She had planned to wait until Yang Le returned to question him closely.

If that sword shadow was genuinely related to Yang Le, she would have him prepare in advance to receive the Sword Sovereign Token's legacy.

If it had nothing to do with him,

then Xu Ruyan would have been forced to tell Yang Le another rule regarding the token, lest he think she was deceiving him.

After all, apart from the token's guides being able to select suitable prodigies to bestow the tokens upon,

the Sword Sovereign Token itself could actually choose a compatible swordsmanship genius.

A sword shadow capable of being seen clearly by the entire Linqing City had proven one thing:

A peerless swordsmanship genius was present in Linqing City.

Yet throughout all of Linqing City, and even the entire Cizhou, there was only a single Sword Sovereign Token.

If the person who released the sword shadow was not Yang Le, then there was a high probability that the token in Yang Le's possession would automatically forsake him,

and instead choose the person who had released the sword shadow.

"Your talent in the way of the sword far exceeds my imagination."

Now, watching the golden light radiate from the token in Yang Le's hand,

even though Yang Le had not answered her question, Xu Ruyan understood...

That previous sword shadow was not only related to Yang Le, but most likely...

It was of Yang Le's own making.

In an instant, the tension in Xu Ruyan's eyes vanished completely.

Her earlier worries had all been for naught.

"A guiding light?"

"Could this be considered the trial of the Sword Sovereign Token opening early?"

The golden light of the token had appeared with startling abruptness.

As the person involved, Yang Le looked at the token in his hand with eyes full of doubt, yet his expression remained calm.

After all, prior to this, Yang Le had questioned Xu Ruyan thoroughly.

He had inquired about the token's function, its origins, and even the time and place of its opening.

Having learned all this, Yang Le had not given the token too much thought, figuring in his own mind that

since the opening time had not yet arrived, worrying about it excessively was entirely meaningless.

Yet now, upon receiving the guidance of the token in his hand,

Yang Le essentially understood what was happening.

The sword shadow he had triggered after acquiring the Sword-Slaying trait had directly forced the token's trial to open ahead of schedule.

"Very well, then come. I, Yang Le, may not necessarily need your legacy, but if you acknowledge my swordsmanship, let me experience your path of the sword."

"A legacy left by an ancient primordial expert—let me see just how sharp your inherited sword truly is!"

After a moment of thought, Yang Le offered no resistance. He stood firmly in place, gripping his longsword, and closed his eyes.

With the trait system at his disposal, Yang Le truly did not place much value on so-called legacies.

The reason he was willing to enter was actually very simple:

He wanted to see if this legacy would introduce him to a school of swordsmanship different from the one he walked.

The next second,

to Xu Ruyan, Yang Le looked as though he had fallen asleep, while his divine soul directly plunged into the golden light.

...

"Troublesome woman, get outside. I rather dislike seeing my master stared at by a stranger."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing much. I just don't trust you."

The moment Yang Le entered the trial, Li Qi'er abruptly stepped in front of Xu Ruyan.

"Forget it, there's no explaining it to a troublesome woman like you. Out you go."

Seeing this, Xu Ruyan had initially wanted to offer an explanation, but unfortunately, Li Qi'er gave her no chance to speak.

With a mere wave of her hand, she swept Xu Ruyan right out the door.

*Master, this seems to be more than just an ancient primordial inheritance... That aura from beyond the realms, is this the true legacy of an immortal...?*

At this moment, Li Qi'er was entirely different from her usual self. Her snow-white hair hung completely loose, and her exquisitely proportioned figure was by no means inferior to Xu Ruyan's.

What was even more striking was her mesmerizing gaze, locked intently upon Yang Le,

flashing with a trace of anxiety.

For the first time,

Li Qi'er felt for the very first time that this inherited power had surpassed the realm of what she could control.

"No matter, I trust Master. The master chosen by me, Li Qi'er, is not so easily defeated."

Tension, anxiety, worry, and all other negative emotions receded like the tide.

Li Qi'er cast aside any further idle thoughts.

She simply stood quietly beside Yang Le,

guarding his path.

...

"No, that aura of exertion..."

"If I'm not mistaken, is that the Second Rank? Or perhaps even higher?"

Outside, realizing she had been instantly teleported into the courtyard and rendered completely immobile, Xu Ruyan fell silent.

The reason for her silence was simple:

The moment Li Qi'er made her move, Xu Ruyan discovered that even if she unleashed all of her hidden cultivation, she would still be no match for her.

The last time Xu Ruyan had fought with all her might was when she contended for the leadership of the Linghua Pavilion,

where she had slain a Third-Rank expert of the earth realm.

Yet even so, before Li Qi'er, Xu Ruyan had not even had the room to put up a fight.

"A master of the Sixth Rank who slays Linqing City with a single sword..."

"A disciple of the Tenth Rank who suppresses me, Xu Ruyan, with a single palm..."

"Are this master and disciple even human?"

Xu Ruyan was speechless.

She had originally thought her concealment was deep enough, but in front of Yang Le and Li Qi'er,

she felt like a clown jumping back and forth.

...

At the same time, tens of thousands of holders of the Sword Sovereign Tokens across the mortal realm within the Spirit Domain suddenly discovered that the legacy, which was supposed to open only after some time,

had today opened without any warning whatsoever.

Suddenly, countless swordsmanship prodigies throughout the Spirit Domain who possessed Sword Sovereign Tokens—

whether they were disciples of major sects, rogue cultivators, or proud talents—

were all swept up by the guiding trial of their tokens.

"The master's trial has opened ahead of schedule? Such a thing hasn't happened in tens of thousands of years."

"Could a peerless genius, one in a million, have appeared?"

Between the boundary layers of the Spirit Domain, a broad-waisted, pot-bellied, disheveled Daoist priest stood with a drunken, hazy look in his eyes as the peachwood sword at his back trembled.

In an instant, the Daoist sobered up, a hint of bewilderment flashing across his face.

Taking out a bronze mirror hanging from his waist and wiping the grime from its surface...

The Daoist peered closely into it.

In an instant, the perplexity on his chubby face turned into utter shock.

The person who had triggered the guiding light ahead of schedule was actually a mortal located in a prison of demons and fiends!

"A century ago, didn't one of Master's sin-punishment avatars step into that pocket realm specifically imprisoned for demons and fiends in order to seek the ultimate wicked path?"

"The Sword Sovereign Tokens left behind in such a cage of a realm numbered only eighty-one. How could a place where the human race is nearly extinct produce someone capable of triggering the trial's guidance prematurely?"

For a moment, the fat Daoist suspected that the alcohol had still not worn off.