Ouyang had just finished a chapter. Whew.

I get off the transport at four, then have to change routes. Ugh, what a disaster.

Once I get settled, the update will be on its way… Please cast your monthly vote! ^_^ ...

The shaft of the Dragon Might War Halberd was exceptionally smooth and ice-cold to the touch, feeling like a venomous snake in the grip. Where the rear handle met the grip, there was a golden ring etched with tight spiral grooves to prevent slippage.

Ye Chen gripped the halberd, testing its surprisingly light weight. He immediately glanced at the stern-faced man, then his figure blurred, and he charged forward.

The stern man felt a dull ache bloom in his chest, secretly stunned by the sheer force of Ye Chen’s previous palm strike. Seeing his own weapon now turned against him, his eyes turned frosty.

With a sharp cry, he planted his feet wide, his entire skeleton audibly adjusting as he snapped into the Xing Yi Three-Body Stance—the foundational stationary posture of Xing Yi Quan. “A Xing Yi master?” Ye Chen’s eyebrow arched.

He hadn’t expected this Russian man to practice Chinese martial arts, but that certainly wouldn't alter his fate! “Die!” Ye Chen’s eyes turned frigid.

The halberd in his hand came alive, moving like a flood dragon emerging from the sea as it thrust straight out, then immediately reversed, falling like a silver dragon hanging from the moon. The stern man’s eyes widened in alarm.

He employed a Monkey Movement Fist technique, recoiling backward, yet the war halberd pursued him like a striking viper, its speed lightning-fast. Bang!

The tip of the halberd struck the man’s chest, but it failed to pierce the white-and-blue uniform. Ye Chen’s gaze sharpened, and he flicked the halberd tip upward.

Chink! The stern man’s head was cleaved open, and he collapsed instantly, dead.

All of this transpired in the blink of an eye. Those watching couldn't even discern the precise movements; they only saw the final, decisive strike split the man’s skull.

Dead! The entire area fell into utter silence.

Ye Chen spared a glance at the corpse on the ground, then turned without lingering, walking directly toward the entrance to the fourth level. Everyone watched his receding figure, mouths agape.

Soon, the group arrived at the fourth level. It was vast, empty, and silent.

“Let’s go,” Ye Chen led the way toward the fifth level. Everyone else had fifty thousand points; he possessed one hundred thousand, allowing them unimpeded passage until they reached the eighth level.

“Huh?” Bai Long looked surprised. “The system notification says I don't have enough points to enter the ninth level.” “Me neither,” Yue Heng confirmed.

Ye Chen stepped toward the passage, confirming he could enter, then backed out. “You guys don’t have enough points.

The ninth level probably requires 100,000 points.” Bai Long asked, astonished, “So you already have 100,000 points?” Ye Chen nodded. Yue Heng’s expression grew strange.

“Weren’t you with us the whole time?” Ye Chen replied calmly, “It was a system reward for claiming the inheritance mission. It’s not important.

You all explore the eighth level here for a bit. Once I complete the inheritance, we can all leave.” “Okay!” Ye Zhu nodded obediently, whispering, “You have to work hard!” A faint smile touched Ye Chen’s lips.

Bai Long and the others settled onto the eighth level, exploring their surroundings until they quickly discovered a virtual trial ground—a place where they could seek out opponents of various levels for combat, similar to the Virtual Battle Tower of the Atlantean civilization. Bored, everyone plunged into the battles, honing their combat skills.

Ye Chen, however, proceeded to the ninth level. This place was immense, an endless expanse of open land stretching to an unseen horizon.

Looking up, he could see nine fiery-red stars, glaring like suns. “Finally, someone has arrived.” An aged voice echoed from the sky.

Ripples shimmered in the air before Ye Chen, and a white-haired, elderly figure stepped out of the void, materializing before him. His eyes were a pale red, seeming to contain a sea of fire.

A few wisps of fiery-red plumage sprouted near his temples. His expression was gentle; he wore long, scarlet robes embroidered with strange patterns from which flames rose, yet the flames never touched the fabric.

Seeing that the elder did not resemble a modern human, Ye Chen asked gravely, “Are you the creator of this ruin?” The white-haired elder smiled faintly. “Indeed.

This ruin is what I left behind, a small contribution, you might say. My time is short, so I won't waste it.

Since you managed to reach this place, you must have passed the trials I set. Any questions you have can be directed to Xiao Fei once the inheritance concludes.” As he spoke, he made a gesture in the air.

The transparent atmosphere parted like water, and the sky above the vast land instantly turned fire-red, as if combusting. Immediately, the space warped, and a massive, sky-obscuring diagram materialized from the void, standing tall between heaven and earth.

This diagram was strikingly similar to the one on the banner: six dots circling a central flame imprint, one dot blazing scarlet, the other five inky black. Ye Chen stared at the sight in shock.

The white-bearded elder barked, “Begin! Use your full strength to integrate that Fire Source into your body and awaken the Six Paths of Fire’s inherent power!” As the command faded, the single, fire-red dot detached itself from the grand diagram and floated toward Ye Chen, resembling a miniature sun.

Soon, it enveloped him completely. Ye Chen’s mind exploded with a deafening boom, turning utterly blank.

His skin, blood, and bones felt as if they were boiling. Intense heat surged from his pores, rushing into his body through his mouth, nose, and eyes.

Endless agony seized every nerve ending. “Aaaah!” Ye Chen roared in pain.

Even his formidable concentration—an iron will forged from surviving being disemboweled and still running several miles—collapsed in an instant. The white-bearded elder watched Ye Chen writhing in the Fire Source, his brow furrowed slightly.

Disappointment flickered in his eyes. “His willpower is still too weak.

I recall the last one, a young demigod from the Mayan civilization, who endured three days in this Fire Source before his will finally broke. He managed to fuse thirty percent of the Fire Source.” “I wonder what percentage you can integrate,” the white-bearded elder murmured, watching Ye Chen scream in torment within the flames.

He felt a pang of sadness. After waiting so many years, only two or three worthy candidates had ever reached this point, yet all had failed to fuse the Fire Source, leaving him disheartened.

Time crept by. In the outside world, at the respawn point on the third floor of the Primordial Spirit Tower, Blood Dragon and his subordinates emerged, his face ugly.

He glared hatefully at the entrance to the fourth floor, his heart bleeding! Gone!

The Dragon Might War Halberd, which he had spent 2,000 points to acquire, had been snatched away by someone else! “When you get out, I swear I will kill you, whether you’re a demon or a god!” Blood Dragon thought viciously.

Those beside him, sensing the killing intent in his eyes, trembled into silence, daring not even to breathe deeply. Even the onlookers who were secretly gloating quickly turned away, relishing his misfortune inwardly but careful not to show it.

Blood Dragon muttered darkly, “Go, send one person out. Tell the guild to send reinforcements.

Once I claim this ruin, no one inside will escape!” “I’ll go!” a young man quickly volunteered, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. He was thoroughly sick of this reincarnation world and longed to leave immediately, but Blood Dragon required a few assistants, forcing these men to remain temporarily.

“Boss, I’ll go!” a sturdy man reacted slightly slower, forcing a smile. “Boss, me too!

I promise I’ll complete the mission you assign!” another thin man said respectfully. Killing intent flashed in Blood Dragon’s eyes.

“You all want to leave so badly?” Seeing his expression shift, everyone fell silent, lowering their heads, afraid to speak further. Blood Dragon scoffed and pointed at a man beside him who hadn't volunteered.

“You! You go!” The man froze, then felt immense relief.

It wasn't that he didn't want to leave; he simply hadn't reacted in time. Expecting his chance to be slim among so many volunteers, he was surprised to be appointed by Blood Dragon himself.

The others shot jealous glances at the chosen man, gnashing their teeth inwardly. Soon, the man applied to the system and left the reincarnation world.

Everyone on the third floor had accumulated at least 5,000 points and could depart at any time. “You’re dead,” Blood Dragon hissed, staring at the fourth-level entrance with a ferocious gaze.

On the ninth level. Ye Chen was entirely engulfed by the Fire Source, its scorching power permeating his entire being.

He felt as if his body were melting, transforming into a pool of magma. His consciousness shattered again and again, only to reform each time!

Ye Zhu! The only remaining clear image in Ye Chen’s mind was that beautiful face, alight with a brilliant smile.

He clenched his jaw stubbornly, bracing against unimaginable pain. Countless images from both his past and present lives flooded his mind: The comrades who were swallowed by monsters so he could escape...

The figures in the Atlantean civilization who charged forward for him without hesitation... The masses fighting desperately amidst a tide of monstrous armies...

“Aaaargh!” He threw his head back and roared, his voice already hoarse. What was it that refused to let him yield?

Whose blood was boiling and burning within him? He lifted his head.

Like a dormant dragon awakened after millennia, he rose from the shallows. When his eyes opened, his pupils seemed to spew twin flames of divine fire, carrying earth-shattering battle intent.

He clenched his fists! His consciousness instantly became indestructible, like an iron wall, standing firm against the endless torrent of pain pouring in.

Outside, the white-bearded elder, who had been observing silently in the void, suddenly startled. He looked up at Ye Chen, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

“Why has the integration speed suddenly accelerated? Strange.

Based on his willpower, he should only last about three shichen (six hours) at most. It looks like something has changed now.” Inside the Fire Source, Ye Chen’s consciousness was forged and hardened through cycles of collapse and reformation.

Coupled with the unshakeable obsession rooted in his heart, he gradually began to withstand the pain inflicted by the Fire Source. Soon after, he discovered that amidst the searing combustion, faint, illusory strands of intent were seeping into his mind, like an ancient scholar lecturing him on Zen philosophy...

Ye Chen slowly closed his eyes. His consciousness merged with the Fire Source, perceiving the subtle, elusive meaning.

True Yijing (artistic conception/mood) was the state achieved when all complexity is distilled back to simplicity after reaching the peak. Ten thousand changes boil down to one principle!

A carpenter making an object needs complex instructions detailing every part and configuration. But an old master carpenter can simply give you one sentence, and once grasped, you learn everything.

That is Yijing! Time flowed onward… One day, two days, three days…