The group froze the instant the massive door creaked fully open.No one stepped forward and no one even breathed properly.Because what lay beyond the door was not a corridor, not another hall, not some cramped trial chamber like before but an entire world.A vast stretch of grasslands unfolded before them, so wide it swallowed the horizon. The grass was not the dull green of ordinary plains but a deep, vibrant emerald, blades tall enough to brush against a man’s waist, swaying in slow waves as though the land itself was breathing.A warm wind rolled through, carrying scents so rich it made heads spin, earth, spirit herbs, and something ancient that clung to the air like a warning.Far above, the sky was enormous and open, painted in a pale blue that seemed unnaturally clean, untouched by clouds and then roars came almost immediately.Low, thunderous bellows echoed from every direction, some distant and drawn out, others sharp and furious, close enough to vibrate through bone. The sou

They stared.Not just at the room, but at everything at once, the throne, the chests, the ancient carvings, and then back at Kai, who was calmly walking around like he hadn’t just dragged them into something that felt several levels above their fate.The comparison hit them hard.What the others had gotten outside, scraps, illusions, broken hopes dressed as rewards felt like a cruel joke now. This place was different.This place was vast, heavy and too fucking real. Every breath here felt older, thicker, like the air itself carried history. The gold alone could fund empires. The martial techniques could rewrite bloodlines. The treasures hummed softly, each one radiating value so dense it made their palms itch.One of the girls swallowed loudly.Another laughed under her breath, not from joy but disbelief. This… this is what inheritance really looks like?A few exchanged glances, their expressions slowly changing from excitement to something quieter, deeper, fear mixed with awe. If thi

Kai returned back to the outside world and smiled as he looked at Jian who was still with the old man, or rather, still inside whatever that place was.Because Jian’s body was right here on the floor, sitting upright like a statue that forgot how to breathe properly, eyes shut, aura calm, posture steady, like a mountain that decided to take a nap and dared the world to disturb itKai’s smile wasn’t loud, it wasn’t excited, it was the kind of smile that only showed up when he was satisfied with a choice he made and didn’t feel the need to explain it to anyone, which wasMost of the time, and the real reason he said he didn’t want the mantle was not because he was trying to act holy, or because he suddenly became a saint overnight, it was because he had already seen too much of what the future demanded from himHe didn’t need a borrowed road that would narrow his next steps, he didn’t need a “mantle” that came with invisible strings and expectations, he had his own path and it was alrea

Kai and his group ran without looking back.Not because they were afraid, but because there was nothing left to gain. No profit, or advantage. Just noise, resentment, and a pointless clash fueled by wounded pride. Kai had never liked fights that yielded nothing, and this one promised only wasted time and unnecessary exposure.They didn’t stop until the terrain changed twice and even the lingering aura of the inheritance ground had faded completely.Only then did Kai raise a hand.“Alright,” he said calmly. “This is far enough.”Everyone slowed to a stop, some bending over with hands on their knees, others leaning against rocks or trees, breathing hard.Despite the chaos they had just left behind, there was no panic among them, only the sharp, lingering thrill of having escaped cleanly.Kai turned his head slightly and looked at Jian.“Can you do it?” he asked. “Force everyone out of the realm.”Jian didn’t hesitate and he nodded once.“I… I can.”The girls stiffened.Force everyone ou

As they returned to their respective sects, the uneasy atmosphere that had followed them from the outside world only grew heavier.Disciples began to disperse in different directions, whispering among themselves, confusion written plainly on their faces.No one understood why the realm had suddenly failed to open, why the signs they had waited for so long simply… vanished. Some speculated about broken formations, others blamed the heavens, and a few even dared to mutter about bad omens, but no one had real answers.So in the end, uncertainty was all they carried back with them.Kai did not linger.The moment he stepped fully into the sect, his expression hardened, the casual calm he usually wore slipping just enough to reveal the seriousness underneath.He turned and immediately went up and sent word to his master, the Grand Elder of the sect, requesting a private meeting. When the old man arrived, Kai didn’t waste time with pleasantries. He bowed briefly, then said he had something i