The ancient hall was shrouded in absolute blackness, illuminated only by the faint glow emanating from nine crystal spheres embedded high in the ceiling, which cast meager light across the vast chamber.

As the surging tide of 299 powerhouses flew into the hall, Duan Donghe was already seated upon the throne above, gazing down with a smile. "Since you have successfully navigated the preceding trials and reached this place, we can now begin accessing the true inheritance."

"The inheritance?"

"Access the inheritance?"

Everyone present understood that only one person could claim the complete inheritance. However, even securing a fraction of it and managing to transmit the information before death would be worthwhile.

"Obtaining even a partial inheritance might reveal a method to transcend the cycle of reincarnation. Once I discover that method... I will self-destruct immediately, perish, and since I possess a clone, I can continue living... If I were attacked by Duan Donghe here, annihilation would be certain." This thought dominated the minds of the numerous experts who had broken through the first bottleneck.

Among the 299 present, two had broken through the third bottleneck, and five had broken through the second. How could it be their turn to receive the inheritance when they had only passed the first bottleneck? Securing some fragmented information and fleeing the moment the situation turned perilous was the wisest path.

Observing the restless thoughts stirring among the experts of various races below, as if they could barely wait, Duan Donghe continued from his throne, "Do not rush. By rights, you should be able to access the inheritance, but... I still need to ask a few questions."

"Questions?"

A tension seized every faction present.

Simultaneously, they cursed Duan Donghe for being so troublesome—why ask questions at this critical juncture?

"Let the other candidates wait; I wish to question the seven of you, the strongest beings in the universe." Duan Donghe directed his gaze toward the seven supreme experts below.

Of the seven universe masters, six hailed from the First Reincarnation Era, and one from the Second.

They were at a severe disadvantage this time; their performance in the Xi Huang’s Game had even been rather ignominious.

"If your answers are incorrect, you may forfeit the chance to touch the inheritance," Duan Donghe warned.

The seven universe masters were greatly alarmed. How could this be...?

"It is not that I withhold opportunity, but because my lineage—the Duan Donghe lineage—has specific requirements regarding the universes you have nurtured," Duan Donghe sighed. "Once a universe is nurtured and born, its structure is fixed, and its future path becomes constrained. If the architecture of your miniature universe does not conform to my specifications, then you are disqualified from receiving the inheritance."

"What!"

"The architecture of a miniature universe?"

"This... this..."

The seven supreme universe masters were stunned speechless.

"As for the other Universe Masters, Universe Venerables, and Immortal Kings, they are weaker and have not yet nurtured their own miniature universes," Duan Donghe explained. "Thus, they can receive guidance on how to structure their universes upon birth when they accept the inheritance of the Duan Donghe lineage. But the seven of you... are already finalized."

"Now, I ask you: what is the structure of your respective universes?" Duan Donghe queried directly.

"This..."

All seven supreme masters hesitated.

They desperately wished to know what kind of 'universe architecture' Duan Donghe desired so they could fabricate convincing false information. But Duan Donghe was no fool and offered no hints, making fabrication exceedingly difficult. Meanwhile, the other 292 experts breathed a collective sigh of relief—at least the supreme masters were bearing the brunt of the scrutiny.

"No wonder, no wonder the two Great Sacred Lands did not dispatch any universe masters this time. It seems... the Duan Donghe lineage, while allowing universe masters to become inheritors, imposes extremely high standards, specifically concerning the architecture of the miniature universe. And the universe masters from the two Great Sacred Lands no longer possess miniature universes to discuss architecture." Luo Feng realized with sudden clarity.

"So that is how it is."

"The inheritance actually has requirements concerning the miniature universe."

The Universe Masters, Universe Venerables, and Immortal Kings present also gained valuable insight. While they were not in immediate peril—quite the opposite, they were intensely curious—they watched eagerly to learn more about this 'miniature universe architecture.'

"Speak," Duan Donghe frowned. "Why the hesitation? You, speak first."

Duan Donghe pointed directly at Mie Bu Demon Master.

Mie Bu Demon Master hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and stated, "When I advanced from Universe Master to supreme universe master, within the innermost fringe of my miniature universe, I established eight major planes—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, and Light—secretly connecting them to the universe's origin to stabilize the entire miniature universe."

"Commonplace rubbish..." Duan Donghe scoffed, shaking his head. "Next." His gaze immediately settled on the Second True Master.

Mie Bu Demon Master's face changed drastically, and he subsequently sighed, shaking his head, realizing he had failed the test.

The Second True Master became nervous and apprehensive.

"I..." The Second True Master hesitated briefly, then immediately began weaving a lie. "I established 10,081 miniature plane spaces, each connected to the universe's origin, transforming them into energy spaces. Furthermore, these 10,081 spaces were constructed into spatial secret patterns, forming the shape of a single sword."

"Is that all?" Duan Donghe looked at the Second True Master.

The Second True Master was clearly fabricating. Hearing Duan Donghe press further, he felt he had a chance and added, "Of course not. I established another 10,081 miniature planes, constructed into temporal secret patterns, also forming a sword shape. Space and time mutually hone each other..."

"Utter nonsense. If your universe were truly structured like that, it would have succumbed to internal strife and collapsed long ago."

Duan Donghe chuckled derisively. "Next."

"Hahaha..."

A few experts couldn't help but laugh. The Second True Master glared around in anger; he had indeed been making things up, inventing a purely imaginary structure. After all, when creating their universes, they had all been extremely cautious about the 'internal architecture,' refraining from rash experimentation, despite having many ideas.

"When I ascended to supreme universe master, my God Kingdom transformed into a miniature universe. Its internal structure consists of eight peripheral worlds and two core worlds, resulting in an incomparably stable world architecture."

"While stable, it will be incredibly difficult to advance or break through," Duan Donghe shook his head. "Next."

Each of these supreme universe masters racked their brains. They ignored the true architecture of their own miniature universes and focused purely on fabricating lies, striving to meet Duan Donghe's requirements.

"Next."

"Hahaha, amusing. Are you certain your universe is like that?"

"Mediocre."

Duan Donghe listened to the replies of the supreme masters, offering only a concise evaluation. After the last one, the Seventh True Master finished, Duan Donghe shook his head. "As expected. Without guidance from a more powerful master, pure guesswork—trying to randomly stumble upon a profound universe architecture method—is truly unlikely. None of you seven... can inherit the Duan Donghe lineage. Your potential is too low. Had you been able to solve 6,000 levels of the prior trial... the Duan Donghe lineage would gladly pay a great price. But your performance was average, and your potential... you are definitively unqualified to receive my lineage’s inheritance."

The seven supreme masters exchanged looks, all filled with resignation.

Tragedy.

Coming here to receive the inheritance had been a great tragedy... First, they suffered losses in the Xi Huang’s Game, and now they were being dismissed, unable even to touch the inheritance.

The remaining 292 experts of various races remained calm. Even among the experts from the First Reincarnation Era, while their own races might not have sent universe masters qualified to enter, everyone could face this rationally. After all, this exclusion was not targeted at any single faction... it disqualified every single universe master.

"I didn't realize that miniature universe architecture held such subtleties," Luo Feng mused inwardly. "That makes sense. In the Original Universe, becoming a supreme universe master is the pinnacle; who can truly say whose miniature universe architecture is superior? Only ancient civilizations that birthed even more powerful supreme beings would know which architecture is superior in the later stages."

This was the inheritance!

It was the accumulated experience and discovered paths forged by countless predecessors who had suffered losses—a path leading to the apex. For the sake of such a Dao, countless predecessors had paid unimaginable prices throughout history, which is why the value of any peak inheritance was immeasurable. It was only natural that the founding ancestors of the two Great Sacred Lands were moved by it.

"You seven are all disqualified," Duan Donghe stated, looking down from his throne. "Besides these seven... all candidates from the God-Eye Race lineage are also disqualified, and every member of the God-Eye Race lineage must die."

"The God-Eye Race?"

Luo Feng was stunned.

"What?" Deer Insect Master was equally surprised.

"The God-Eye Race is disqualified?" Blood Fiend Venerable looked bewildered.

"Impossible," Master Wu Liang’s expression changed drastically.

The Second True Master and Seventh True Master of the God-Eye Race, Master Wu Liang... along with experts who had broken the first bottleneck like Master Ying Ai and Master Jiu Hang, were all left utterly dumbfounded.

"Boom!!!"

The Seventh True Master immediately brought forth the ultimate supreme treasure, the Ice Cliff Fort, while simultaneously diving inside it. The fort rapidly expanded, the elegant fortress resting upon the cold, crystalline mountain peak. The Seventh True Master urgently transmitted sound waves: "Hurry inside!"

Instantly, the Second True Master, Master Wu Liang, and the others forgot their shock and immediately entered the Ice Cliff Fort.

Though slow in description, in reality, it took only an instant. All 28 candidates of the God-Eye Race lineage, including the two supreme universe masters, were sealed within the Ice Cliff Fort. The chilling fortress settled onto the ground, and then an enraged voice echoed out. "Lord Duan Donghe, why is the God-Eye Race lineage disqualified, and furthermore, why must we all perish? Why this differential treatment?"

"If Lord Duan Donghe truly did not wish for the God-Eye Race lineage to receive the inheritance, why not tell us at the initial inspection, just as you did with the Skeleton Race, stating they were unqualified? If you had told us earlier... the God-Eye Race would not have needed to enter at all."

The God-Eye Race lineage was indeed driven to madness by anger, but no matter how furious, they knew it was better to seek argument from within the safe haven of the Ice Cliff Fort first. After all, even with Duan Donghe's power, if they activated the 'Ultimate Supreme Treasure Palace' to its fullest capacity, Duan Donghe, who had long since perished... wait, the long-dead Duan Donghe probably couldn't harm them, right?

"Indeed, Lord Duan Donghe, why such discriminatory treatment?"

"Giving us hope only to crush us into despair."

"Only at the very end do you say we are unqualified and that we must all die."

A cascade of voices erupted.

It was evident that the God-Eye Race lineage was boiling with rage.

Duan Donghe sat on the throne, looking down. "This... is a request from a friend of mine. I owed him, so naturally, I agreed."