Meng Meng teleported.
He appeared in the middle of a vast sea. The water carried a faint smell of blood and radiated a tyrannical intent, as if some tyrannical cultivator had once ruled here for decades, or even centuries. But none of that mattered to Meng Meng — in this sea, he was just a fish. Even centuries or millennia were insignificant compared to the long path from Qi to Foundation, Foundation to Golden Core, and beyond.
One year…
After a year, the cracks in Meng Meng's body slowly healed. His soul opened its eyes, blurry but alive. He felt reborn. His bones, reforged, were now stronger than before. A refreshing feeling surged through him. He inhaled Qi, calmer than before, though his vision remained unclear and his memories were almost gone. Only two words remained in his mind:
"Ping… Meng."
Slowly, his Sea of Consciousness erupted with a refreshing aura. For a brief moment, flames erupted within him, only to dissipate. His soul looked inward and sensed his Sea of Soul; even though his memory was blurry, cultivation was deeply engraved in his body.
Ten minutes…
Meng Meng stopped absorbing Qi. His physical body stirred and awakened. Puzzled, he looked at the sea around him — pitch dark, the smell of blood lingering. Heavens had favored him and made him land on an island in the middle of the sea.
He slowly remembered that he was the Young Master of the Soul Sect. All past events, though flawed in his memory, surfaced and caused a backlash. He coughed up blood and whispered bitterly:
"My cultivation… destroyed."
Yet suddenly, he realized something shocking — he could still enter the Sea of Consciousness and use divine sense, something only possible for cultivators. Excitement lit up his face.
Within his Sea of Consciousness floated nine dim stars — the remnants of his shattered soul orb. It was on the verge of shattering completely, yet he could feel that the Foundation Establishment stage was near. The creamy pallor of his face betrayed his excitement. Fate had favored him once again
A jade appeared suddenly in his Sea of Consciousness. Meng Meng recognized it immediately — the Jade of Soul Records, used to store voices. A warm feeling filled his body. Though cautious, he felt gratitude toward the one who had saved him. He stepped forward and took the jade, storing some Qi energy within it
Minutes passed… ten… twenty… still nothing happened. Meng Meng's patience reached its peak. "This thing…" Feeling annoyed, he was about to throw it into the vastness of his Sea of Consciousness, but a phenomenon happened.
Slowly, the jade moved from his Sea of Consciousness and apprised the oldie of where Meng Meng's flesh body was in the real world. Strands of energy were absorbed, and the tyrannical energy of the sea was also absorbed.
One minute passed, and a familiar but terrifying energy surged forth. Unfamiliar to many, yet familiar to Meng Meng — it was clearly Nirvana energy. His face changed color.
Shrouding pressure made it heavy, and it was difficult for him to breathe. But suddenly, a warm feeling filled his body. A sole figure emerged from the jade, his gaze profound and filled with defiance. It wouldn't be a shame if he was even called a Heaven-defying cultivator. His eyes showed his unyielding nature.
Meng Meng wanted to look — it wasn't that he was scared. The sole reason was the difference in their cultivation. He looked directly into the eyes of a Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivator — normally nothing would happen. But Nirvana was beyond any of that, and he had a feeling this person was at the bottom line of Nirvana.
That man was disappointed in Meng Meng. Since he was a Heaven-defying cultivator, he despised those who wouldn't dare defy Heaven. Yet he had solely chosen Meng Meng for his inheritance, seeing the unwinding will in Meng Meng. Now, after witnessing this, he somewhat felt regret in his decision.
While Meng Meng thought one word — resist — no matter what, he had seen a Nirvana cultivator fight against Heaven. Then he realized that even that strong cultivator was nothing but an ant. An unyielding will appeared within him.
"I dare to resist Heaven! How can I back down against a mere Nirvana cultivator!"
He slowly raised his head. Sudden terror filled his heart, but he didn't falter. After all, that man had saved him. If he had meant to harm him, why would he not have? This chance was given to him. And if he took it, it didn't matter.
He finally saw the old master's soul face. He was shocked — truly shocked — but he suppressed it and met his gaze. This sudden act caused Teng Xuwan's regret to disappear; his face of disappointment was replaced with admiration.
He laughed crazily, the sound shocking even Meng Meng. Meng Meng was dumbfounded, thinking the old master was mocking him. But he didn't know that he had imprinted himself inside that Teng Xuwan soul.
"I, Teng Xuwan, in my entire life of hundreds of thousands of years, have never seen a person beside me dare to resist Heaven! Excellent, you, Meng Meng, are truly worthy of my inheritance — the inheritance of the Heaven-defying cultivator, Teng Xuwan!"
Meng Meng was immersed in his own thoughts, but hearing Teng Xuwan's words, his heart trembled and excitement filled him.
Only one sensitized mutter escaped from his mouth, in disbelief:
"Inheritance?!"