Chapter 481 - 480: Choice

Chapter 481: Chapter 480: Choice

Outside the Nine-Layered Tower, the instant Qin Ya vanished from the seventh layer, the light screen projected by the Tomb Guardian shattered. The crowd was in turmoil, their faces etched with disbelief. They immediately turned to the Tomb Guardian, looking anxious.

’Oh my god! Qin Ya broke through the seventh layer and reached the unprecedented eighth layer! For you to take down the light screen at a time like this... are you trying to kill us with suspense?’

The Tomb Guardian seemed to have guessed their thoughts. He smiled faintly and said, "I can understand how you all feel. To be honest, I’m quite curious myself. However, the eighth layer is the Saint’s Land of Inheritance. Even I cannot pry into it in the slightest."

Hearing this, the crowd was itching with curiosity, but there was nothing they could do.

’Wait, the Saint’s Land of Inheritance!’

It was as if their minds had been struck by ten thousand bolts of lightning, leaving them completely dazed.

’Oh, heavens, the Saint’s Land of Inheritance.’

’Qin Ya is really going to obtain a Saint’s inheritance.’

For a moment, a hundred different emotions churned within the crowd. Most of the proud prodigies were nearly driven mad with jealousy, yet they couldn’t deny that they also admired Qin Ya.

"Damn it! That guy is actually getting the Saint’s inheritance."

"I’m so jealous! Why couldn’t the one getting the inheritance be me?"

"Give it a rest. Do you have Qin Ya’s strength? Do you have his wisdom? Sigh... I’m afraid he’s about to become the leader of the younger generation."

"Indeed. He truly puts the rest of us to shame."

Among the members of the Cloud Sea Immortal Sect, Ximen Yu’s face was practically green with jealousy. In stark contrast, Nanle, who stood not far away, was filled with awe and adoration. He whispered, "Brother Qin is incredible. To think he’s actually receiving a Saint’s inheritance."

Lingxi, who was beside him, smiled and said, "You blockhead, you’re amazing too, you know? You managed to reach the sixth layer, a place even Ximen Yu couldn’t get to. Your future achievements will definitely far surpass ours."

Hearing this, Ximen Yu, who wasn’t far away, almost spat out a mouthful of blood. His face went from livid to pale, his eyes flashing with jealousy and madness. An Evil Qi, like that of a Fierce Beast, radiated from his body, causing those nearby to instinctively back away.

Nanle seemed to sense the stare from behind and turned around. Frowning slightly, he shot Ximen Yu an indifferent glance before turning back to laugh and chat with Lingxi. This sight only fueled Ximen Yu’s jealousy, making him grind his teeth in hatred.

Among the many disciples from Kunyun Palace, their expressions were complicated. It would be a lie to say they weren’t jealous, but that jealousy didn’t fester into resentment. At the end of the day, they were all fellow disciples, and most of them had a decent relationship with Qin Ya.

Luox Xinyu smiled faintly. "Brother Qin is truly a man who creates miracles. A Saint’s inheritance that no one has managed to obtain for a thousand years, and he just takes it like that. Even though I’ve grown accustomed to his wondrous feats, I can’t help but feel shocked."

Beside her, Leng Qiushan nodded in deep agreement. "A little over a year ago, I could still fight on even terms with Brother Qin. But in just this short year, he has left us all far behind in the dust. It’s humbling."

Just then, Xu Zhenhong, his face beaming with excitement, walked over.

"Haha, there’s no need to sell yourselves short," Xu Zhenhong said with a hearty laugh. "Every single one of you is a prodigy in your own right, talented enough to dazzle an entire region. Your future accomplishments will be anything but small, so there’s no need to obsess over comparing yourselves to Elder Qin."

’I’m afraid that if you did, the comparison would be too crushing for you to handle.’

Of course, Xu Zhenhong would never say that out loud.

Just then, Li Peiyi’s figure suddenly materialized outside the Nine-Layered Tower. She was half-kneeling on the ground, her face etched with exhaustion, and her eyes held a trace of unwillingness to concede defeat.

"Sigh... a pity. I was so close."

The people from Divine Sword Mountain immediately rushed over to stand guard around Li Peiyi. Helian Lie helped her to her feet and asked with concern, "Peiyi, are you alright?"

Li Peiyi shook her head, her voice tinged with a hint of indignation. "I’m fine. It seems defeating a version of myself at my absolute limit is harder than I thought. It’s a pity... If I’d just had a little more time, I’m certain I could have defeated her."

After speaking, her gaze swept across the crowd, and the corners of her lips curled slightly. "Qin Ya reached the seventh layer before I did. Like me, he only had three days. I’m out now, but he isn’t. It seems he passed the seventh layer."

Helian Lie nodded. "Indeed. That Qin Ya is truly formidable. The seventh layer, which no one has passed in a thousand years... he actually did it. When word of this gets out, his fame will become a blazing sun, illuminating all four sects."

"Heh, as expected of my lifelong rival!"

「Meanwhile, on the eighth layer.」Qin Ya stared at the white-robed elder before him, his expression a mixture of shock and suspicion. "You’re saying... you are the Void Saint?"

The white-robed elder smiled and nodded. "I am."

"But aren’t you dead?" Qin Ya asked, confused.

"Yes, I am."

Qin Ya grew even more confused. "Then what... is this?"

"Don’t be impatient. Let me explain," the Void Saint said with a smile.

"Please, take your time." Qin Ya wasn’t in a hurry.

"Heh, about six thousand years ago, I was still a young Venerable, roaming the vast expanse of the Azure Sky. I later came upon a mysterious Celestial Sacred Artifact—the very tower now used to test you all, called the Nine Revolutions Void Tower. Through it, I even comprehended the Space Holy Dao. However, it was also because of this tower that I was ambushed by several other Saints. And, well... as you can see, I lost my life as a result."

"To my surprise, however, the Void Tower was not taken by those Saints after my death. Instead, it gathered the fragments of my Holy Soul and fell into a deep slumber with me inside for five thousand years. When I finally awoke, I discovered that I had become the Void Tower’s Sacred Artifact Spirit. What’s more, the tower itself had lost much of its power and been reduced to a common Sacred Artifact. That is why I must find an Inheritor."

"Someone to inherit the Void Tower, help me recover its lost power... I even hope this Inheritor can grow strong enough to become a Saint, help me reconstruct a physical body, and free me from my prison within this tower. That’s why I contacted a former disciple of mine and had him bring you all here to face these trials."

After hearing the tale, Qin Ya finally began to understand. "So, what you call an ’inheritance’ is actually this Void Holy Tower... and you, a fragmented Holy Soul?"

"You could put it that way. Are you willing to accept it?"

"Why didn’t you choose the Tomb Guardian?"

"Do you think I didn’t want to? I can see that his potential has been exhausted. Barring a miracle, he will never reach the level of a Saint in this lifetime."

Qin Ya rubbed his head. He clearly still had many unanswered questions, but a Saint’s inheritance was right in front of him. ’Should I take it, or not?’

The Void Saint watched him with an enigmatic smile, and the atmosphere fell silent. After a long moment, Qin Ya spoke. "If I accept your inheritance, not only will I have to find the Void Tower’s lost power, but I’ll also have to help you reconstruct your physical body."

"More importantly," Qin Ya continued, "Saints have incredibly long lifespans. The ones who killed you back then... they might still be alive. That means I, a mere Celestial Human, would be indirectly making enemies of several living Saints. Is that right?"