Time flowed like water, and three days passed swiftly.
Within Lin Xiao’s dantian, a boundless surge of Haoran Righteous Qi had formed, as if brimming with an inexhaustible force.
Clearly, with the aid of the inheritance, he had successfully cultivated Haoran Undying.
He didn’t stop there. His meridians moved instinctively, his energy mobilising on its own, surging along the pathways of Haoran Unbreakable, repeatedly charging through.
Two more days passed, and the surrounding dense Haoran Righteous Qi dispersed outward. Brilliant golden light radiated from Lin Xiao’s body.
Powerful Haoran Righteous Qi flowed from his palms, forming a golden energy barrier that enveloped him, tightly encasing his body.
The surface of the golden barrier condensed into scales, making the defensive shield impregnable.
Lin Xiao was overjoyed. After mastering Haoran Undying, his dantian brimmed with immense Haoran Righteous Qi, seemingly endless, seven or eight times stronger than before.
Even fully activating his defence, he could likely sustain it for a considerable time.
Moreover, he had no idea how formidable this Haoran Unbreakable defence would be.
To fully accept the inheritance in such a short time truly lived up to the legacy I left behind.
At this moment, Meng Haoran’s consciousness let out a long sigh, a look of delight appearing on its face.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao snapped out of his focus, ceasing the activation of the martial skill. He bowed to Meng Haoran’s consciousness. “Thank you, Senior Meng!”
Meng Haoran’s consciousness shook its head, chuckling with some excitement. “No need to thank me. I’m merely helping myself.”
“Having accepted the Haoran Undying and Unbreakable inheritance, you’re barely qualified to inherit my Battle Pupils.”
“Battle Pupils?” Lin Xiao was puzzled.
“Indeed!” Meng Haoran’s consciousness nodded with a smile. “In truth, the most powerful thing I left behind isn’t Haoran Undying or Unbreakable, but the Haoran Battle Pupils.” His excitement grew, his pupils blazing brighter. “Undying and Unbreakable are merely defensive. A warrior knows no bounds, and battle is the best way to uphold the righteous path. The Haoran Battle Pupils were my talent in life, renowned for battling heaven and earth.”
“With the Haoran Battle Pupils, you’ll be a war god, invincible, conquering all in battle!”
Meng Haoran’s eyes flickered with two searing beams of golden light, his face revealing intense greed. “Of course, your body will belong to me.”
Lin Xiao’s forehead vein throbbed, his face filled with horror.
This consciousness intended to possess his body?
The earlier inheritance was merely tempering his body for this purpose?
“Heh, after waiting for millennia, I’ve finally found a body capable of housing me,” Meng Haoran laughed wickedly, stepping closer to Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao was horrified to find his body bound by a terrifying pressure, rendering him immobile.
This pressure came from Meng Haoran’s consciousness before him.
As the founding ancestor of the Haoran Sect, with Haoran Righteous Qi cultivated to its peak, how could he resort to something as vile as possession? Lin Xiao shouted coldly, his mind racing through options, but they were useless against this consciousness.
Even his spiritual energy couldn’t leave his body, and none of his trump cards could be used.
This consciousness was too powerful, as if it were not just a consciousness but a true living being.
Yet, Lin Xiao was also puzzled. As the founding ancestor of Haoran Mountain, how could he set up a scheme to possess another’s body? “Wicked? Heh,” Meng Haoran’s consciousness chuckled, unperturbed. “Haoran Righteous Qi doesn’t require a just heart to cultivate. True righteousness, whether born of a demonic or righteous heart, can be achieved. Even through wickedness, it remains righteous.”
“Let me be frank. I, or rather, my former self, Meng Haoran, didn’t set up this scheme. I truly intended to pass down the inheritance and Haoran Battle Pupils to future generations.”
“But the Haoran Battle Pupils are so formidable that, after endless ages, they developed their own consciousness—me.”
“Your body has great potential, exceptional talent, and even a mid-level Earth-tier Blood Dragon phenomenon. Possessing you won’t disgrace me.”
With that, Meng Haoran’s consciousness began to dissipate, leaving only a pair of radiant golden pupils.
Then, these pupils shot toward Lin Xiao’s eyes.
Lin Xiao’s eyes widened in fury. Not only he, but countless generations of the Spear Dragon Sect, would never have imagined that the trial and inheritance left by this ancestor had developed its own consciousness, becoming a predatory wolf ready to possess.
“Swoosh!” In an instant, the golden pupils reached Lin Xiao’s eyes, a profound sense of crisis flooding his heart.
This Battle Pupils’ consciousness was nothing like the weakened Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor, which had only a flicker of life left after helping him restore his dantian and awaken his spiritual energy.
This Battle Pupils’ consciousness was intact, not only unharmed but immensely powerful, supported by the pupils themselves.
Resisting possession with just his own consciousness was likely impossible.
Bound by the terrifying pressure, he was utterly helpless.
“You can’t possess me!” As the Battle Pupils neared his eyes, Lin Xiao shouted desperately.
The Haoran Battle Pupils halted, their blazing golden glow hovering before Lin Xiao’s eyes, causing a stinging pain as if he were going blind.
“Oh? Do you think you have a reason to stop me from possessing you?” a mocking voice came from the Haoran Battle Pupils.
“I’m not the most suitable body for you to possess. In the Southeast Domain, there’s someone with a stronger physique. I can lead you to him. If I’m lying, you can possess me then,” Lin Xiao said hurriedly.
“That reason isn’t enough,” the Haoran Battle Pupils dismissed, preparing to surge into Lin Xiao’s eyes.
“I’m the inheritor of the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor!” Lin Xiao shouted, closing his eyes tightly. It was the first time he had voluntarily revealed his connection to the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor.
“Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor? Never heard of him,” the Haoran Battle Pupils said dismissively. “If you have no other reasons, prepare to be possessed. Don’t worry, I’ll inherit your memories and make your name renowned across the continent.”
“I’m also the inheritor of the Radiant Emperor!” Lin Xiao shouted again.
Mentioning the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor was merely to bolster his case. Given the Battle Pupils’ age, they likely wouldn’t know of the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor from over a thousand years ago.
But the Radiant Emperor, from over ten thousand years ago, might be known. These Battle Pupils, being Meng Haoran’s, should carry some of his memories.
“Oh, you’re the inheritor of that freak?” The Haoran Battle Pupils were indeed surprised.
Lin Xiao was equally shocked. Meng Haoran did know of the Radiant Emperor!
And he was an even older figure than the Radiant Emperor!
This Haoran Mountain held such an ancient inheritance.
“If it were my former self, I’d show great respect. But unfortunately, I’m not him. And knowing you’ve inherited that freak’s legacy makes me even more eager. Die, kid.”
With that, the Haoran Battle Pupils surged forward, penetrating like they could seep through anything, passing through Lin Xiao’s closed eyelids and merging with his pupils. Threads of blood began seeping from the corners of his eyes.
