Chapter 280: Internal Strife of the Golden Proud Cult |
In that instant, lines of text began to form on the light screen entrance - Only a single individual may enter the inheritance grounds at a time.
The inheritances of all cultivation methods are imprinted with soul power through a unique secret art, and can only be utilized once. Following their use, the teachings of the cultivation method can be mastered to a minor accomplishment-level or potentially, a great accomplishment-level.
All inheritances of spiritual plants and pills require immediate use. Once the light screen is removed, these must be consumed on the spot; otherwise, their medicinal properties will disperse and evaporate into thin air.
The majority of other inheritances also necessitate immediate usage and cannot be stored for future use.
...
Upon reading the text on the light screen entrance, the expressions on most of the faces in the Golden Proud Cult turned rather sour.
The text implied that only one person could acquire the majority of the inheritances, leaving the rest to scrounge over the leftovers—if any remained at all.
This situation seemed profoundly unfair!
Just then, the previous text faded, replaced by a new line - The light screen entrance will open in a quarter of an hour!
Bang!
A massive wave of energy erupted.
Yet, the light screen entrance remained entirely unresponsive.
"It won't open!" Bao Xunwu's expression shifted, and he promptly ceased his attempt.
His fear was that any forceful attempt to open the light screen might obliterate the inheritances within.
"Cult Master, what should we do now?" A cultivator inquired, swallowing nervously.
"Hmph! What else can we do?" Another member of the Golden Proud Cult retorted, "Our Cult Master is the strongest among us. Naturally, he should be the one to receive the inheritance!"
"Exactly, the inheritance should indeed be bestowed upon the Cult Master alone. When the Cult Master becomes stronger, we will inevitably reap the benefits." A number of cultivators surrounding Bao Xunwu started to express their agreement, their voices creating a cacophonous uproar.
Following these statements, a hushed silence fell over the scene. There appeared to be no dissent.
Yet, the private thoughts of individuals told a different tale.
This was a tremendous opportunity for monumental advancement.
Upon receiving the inheritance, the chances of ascending to the Transcendence realm—and becoming the mightiest cultivator on the Immortal Martial Continent—skyrocketed.
To attain the Transcendence realm, to stand at the pinnacle of the Immortal Martial Continent, to hold sway over all beings—who could resist such allure of power and status?
"Since everyone is in agreement, I shall accept these inheritances, and later, I'll impart these cultivation method inheritances to you all!" Bao Xunwu surveyed the crowd, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. His focus was entirely on the inheritances; his gaze stubbornly fixated on the deepest inheritance, unwilling to shift for even a moment.
In the congregation of the Golden Proud Cult, the countenances of the other two Dao Palace realm cultivators remained unaltered. However, a plethora of clandestine thoughts were already brewing within their hearts.
'Hmph! Even if he imparts these teachings to us later, how could it equate to directly understanding the esoteric principles of the cultivation methods to the great accomplishment level?'
'Moreover, that Transcendence realm inheritance... would he truly share it with us? Absolutely not!'
'And those pills, only he can consume them!'
'Why not me? I am in no way inferior to this Bao Xunwu. The only reason he is the leader is because I couldn't be bothered with the hassles of managing the sect!'
'I must obtain this inheritance. Once in my possession, I will stand as an unrivaled entity, reigning supreme over all and controlling everything!'
These two cultivators were waiting for the other to make the first move—to strike at Bao Xunwu!
Nonetheless, as the quarter of an hour rapidly approached, neither of them took action, resulting in growing anxiety in their hearts.
Then, in a flash, the two covertly extended their divine senses, conducted an instantaneous exchange, and agreed upon a mutual plan to attack and eliminate Bao Xunwu!
Time, thus, passed by the second.
A blink of an eye and half a quarter of an hour had already elapsed.
'It's opening! It's opening!! I'm on the verge of advancing to the Transcendence realm, hahaha!' Bao Xunwu, entirely oblivious to the lethal intentions harbored by his fellow sect members, was brimming with anticipation!
Swoosh! Swoosh!
At that very moment, the other two Dao Palace realm powerhouses of the Golden Proud Cult simultaneously launched their most potent strikes, concurrently aiming at Bao Xunwu.
Their close proximity meant the attacks from the pair reached Bao Xunwu almost instantaneously.
"What!! You dare to attack me! Ah! You scoundrels! Traitors!" Bao Xunwu's face transformed with shock, it was already too late to muster his strongest defense.
In his desperation, the characteristic sturdiness of the Great Dao of Metal surged forth, shaping a golden shield around him!
Boom!
The dual power-packed strikes impacted Bao Xunwu, instantaneously detonating with overwhelming aftershocks of the battle.
"Ah! Flee!" cried out an anonymous member of the Golden Proud Cult.
"The Supreme Elders and the Cult Master are locked in combat!"
"No, please cease, I don't want to die!"
"Ah! My leg!"
One by one, cultivators who were situated too close were instantly torn to shreds, while a large number of cultivators suffered grave injuries, uttering horrified screams as they scrambled to escape.
In merely a brief span, a substantial portion of the Golden Proud Cult cultivators were either slain or hurt, with the remaining ones also suffering severe injuries.
Simultaneously, while the grand battle between Bao Xunwu and the two others was unfolding, outside the immense peak, Gu Ran and Liu Xiong had finally reached the colossal crevice of the towering peak.
'There must be invaluable treasures hidden within this massive peak!' Gu Ran glanced up at the pinnacle of the crevice that remained out of sight, a potent premonition surging within him.
Suddenly, an unidentified voice pierced the silence, "Run, run, let's see where you can escape!"
"Hehehe, there's no way out, right? Today, this demon will certainly devour you whole!"
One after another, demons and demonic cultivators at the Dao Comprehension realm swarmed in from the distance, and in the blink of an eye, they had Gu Ran and Liu Xiong cornered.
'Damn it! All the adversaries are at the Dao Comprehension realm!' Gu Ran's face contorted as if he had swallowed something revolting.
If it had been a cultivator at the Inquiring Journey realm, he would have still had a chance to engage and emerge stronger, using the chaos of battle to feed his growth, and eventually overturn the situation.
But at present, he found himself woefully outmatched.
Despite his desire to kill and grow stronger, he found himself obstructed at the very first step, rendered incapable of slaying a single foe!
Suddenly, a flash of insight pierced through Gu Ran's mind. 'There's no other way. After all, the secret of my ability to kill and grow stronger is already known to the Heavenly Gu Society.'
Indeed, he planned to use Liu Xiong!
"Liu Xiong, listen closely! If you don't want to die, follow my lead!" Gu Ran commanded urgently, his eyes locked on the impending foes.
"In the upcoming battle, do everything in your power to defeat the Dao Comprehension realm enemies. However, the final blow must be mine to deliver!"
"Once I have slain several Dao Comprehension realm adversaries, I can level up to their realm. Only then will we stand a fighting chance!" Gu Ran communicated this crucial strategy to Liu Xiong with utter seriousness.
"Honorable Holy Son!" Liu Xiong's expression shifted as he absorbed Gu Ran's words, and he swiftly used his transmission jade token to contact Jiang Chen, "About Gu Ran..."
"Refuse his request and prevent him from entering the mountain rift," Jiang Chen instructed Liu Xiong through his divine sense. "Reinforcements from our Purple Heaven Holy Land will arrive shortly."
With his Transcendence realm divine sense, he had already noticed the intrusion into the mountain and vaguely sensed the battle taking place within.
It posed a vexing dilemma.
If Gu Ran stayed outside the mountain peak, under the manipulation of his Heavenly Fate, he would find opportunities to kill the demons and demonic cultivators, thereby enhancing his power.
If Gu Ran infiltrated the mountain, he could potentially get entangled in the internal combat and gain strength through those battles.
Moreover, there was the formation inside the mountain which could be exploited by Gu Ran.
In the original timeline, Gu Ran managed to turn the tables and dominate, no matter the circumstances.
'Heavenly Fate... It's indeed a troublesome power,' Jiang Chen mused, stroking his chin. Soon, a smirk formed on his face, 'Fortunately, I have my Heaven-Defying Fate Changer treasures!'
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