SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

The continuous sound of sharp thorns piercing flesh came from the Sea Dragon’s body. Drop by drop, blue blood slowly seeped out, splashing onto the thorns. Ordinarily, this blood should have dispersed rapidly in the seawater, but something strange happened. The blood that splashed onto the thorns was rapidly absorbed, and the thorns that absorbed it grew even more robust.

Bound by the thorns, the Sea Demon Dragon struggled violently. But the thorns clung to the Sea Dragon’s body like maggots on a rotting bone, impossible to break free from no matter how much it thrashed. Not only that, but as the Sea Dragon struggled, the eerie thorns began to emit a strange siphoning sound. Watching the thorned vines swell continuously, Mu Chen gulped.

The scene was so familiar. He still had a vivid memory of when he first bonded with the Profound Jade Fan and the nine-colored figure used this Secret Technique on him. Back then, when he was entangled by those dark green thorns, the feeling of his power and Life Force constantly draining had truly terrified him. Now, after all this time, he never imagined that this Secret Technique was actually so powerful.

He watched as the Sea Dragon’s body gradually withered, the life fading from its eyes. Its struggles slowly ceased. Amidst the surging seawater, the Sea Dragon’s body, now nothing but skin and bones, slowly shattered and turned into countless crystalline motes of light that entered Mu Chen’s body. In contrast, the incredibly thick thorned vines twisted and rapidly retracted into the emerald-green space, vanishing completely.

GULP...

Swallowing lightly, Mu Chen shook his head and said, "Extreme Wood Attribute, control over life, Death Thorns. I used to think the name was too tacky and unrefined. But now, it seems like the most fitting name possible... thorns that bring death."

Putting away the Profound Jade Fan, Mu Chen sighed softly and turned to his Master beside him, smiling. "I passed."

The Profound Old Ghost smiled faintly, a flicker of imperceptible fear in his eyes. Even an old relic like him, who had seen his fair share of blood and storms, found that last scene shocking. ’Is this the Secret Technique that comes with the Profound Jade Fan?’ he thought. ’It’s a little terrifying...’

"Challenger Mu Chen, challenge successful. Evaluation: Perfect clear. Clear time: one minute and fifty-six seconds."

BZZZT...

A pillar of golden light suddenly rose from within the Tower of Calamity. At the same time, a weathered, emotionless voice sounded in Mu Chen’s ear.

"Mu Chen, congratulations on gaining the approval of the Tower of Calamity and successfully meeting the conditions to open the top floor. The Teleportation Array has been opened for you. Please enter..."

Hearing this, Mu Chen looked at the Profound Old Ghost beside him. The Profound Old Ghost nodded. "Silly boy, go on in. Let’s see just what kind of great treasure requires such a difficult trial."

With that, Mu Chen and the Profound Old Ghost stepped into the green Teleportation Array that had appeared and vanished...

「In the Outer Realm.」

Elder Mu and Wu Kui, who had been holding their breath, finally relaxed. Wu Kui let out a long sigh. "Good kid, he’s just incredible. For tens of thousands of years, ever since this Tower of Calamity appeared, probably no one has ever managed to clear it. This kid... he’s a monster!!"

Elder Mu chuckled softly and turned to look at the massive Calamity Inscription. At that very moment, a seven-colored name was displayed prominently at the very top: Mu Chen. He knew that name would remain on the inscription forever.

Meanwhile, inside the Tower of Calamity, in an unknown space, a dozen or so colossal beasts were gathered together, every one of their faces filled with excitement.

A giant steel behemoth pounded its chest and laughed heartily. "Hahaha, I knew that little brat could do it, but I didn’t expect him to pull it off in just two short years."

"It’s easy for you to say, Aiolos. He hadn’t fully matured back then, so all you got were some superficial wounds. But look at that guy, Flood Dragon. He’s still in a daze," a Griffin chuckled.

The one called Flood Dragon was none other than the Sea Dragon that had just fought Mu Chen. Its pupils were unfocused, and it was trembling all over, staring blankly into space. Hearing the Griffin and Aiolos’s mockery, the Sea Dragon focused its Spirit and said, "What the hell do you know?! That kid is terrifying... I never want to experience that feeling of being unable to live and unable to die a second time! I was so desperate I wanted to beg for mercy, but those thorns had me tied up, and I couldn’t move at all! Besides, didn’t you just beg for mercy right away? You have the nerve to talk about me."

The Griffin snorted coldly. "That’s called being flexible."

Aiolos patted the Sea Demon Dragon’s back and chuckled. "We all saw it. Good thing the one that went out to fight was just an Illusion created by a Clone left by that Calamity Old Ghost. Even though it required your own Spiritual Power to control, you wouldn’t have actually died."

"Still, we’re finally getting out. That bastard Calamity Old Ghost has had me locked up for a hundred thousand years. I wonder how much the Outer Realm has changed," the Sea Dragon sighed and continued.

"Let’s hope not too much..."

WHOOSH!

Just then, a Teleportation Array suddenly appeared in another space. This space had no lights, yet it was exceptionally bright. It was extremely small, but within this cramped area floated countless orbs of light. Peering through them, Mu Chen quickly identified the items hidden inside. They were clearly scrolls of Combat Skills, medicinal pills, Medicinal Herbs, and weapons.

’So that’s how it is. This must be where they hand out the clear rewards...’

He took two small steps, and a sinister voice echoed deep in his mind. It was the Profound Old Ghost, who had entered with him. His voice was extremely cautious as he said gravely, "Xiao Chenzi, it seems there’s someone up ahead."

Mu Chen froze, surprised. He took two more steps forward, and sure enough, at the end of the small space sat a disheveled, green-haired old man. The old man looked listless with his eyes shut tight, seemingly devoid of any life. No! It wasn’t that he was devoid of life, but rather that he had no physical body at all. Like his Master, he was in a soul state.

As Mu Chen gradually approached, the old man’s eyes suddenly snapped open. A sharp glint shot into Mu Chen’s pupils, forcing him to a halt.

"Little one... congratulations on passing my trial..."

The hoarse voice sent a chill down Mu Chen’s spine. ’This old man must have been a peerless expert in his time!’

"Who are you?"

Although Mu Chen had heard rumors that the Tower of Calamity held a powerful inheritance, they were just rumors. Seeing the scene at the top of the tower with his own eyes, he grew wary.

"Who am I? I am merely a Clone... As for my name, my true self is called the Calamity Emperor." The soul-form elder spoke slowly, as if making small talk, but his words shocked Mu Chen to the core.

"The Calamity Emperor!!!"

’Great Emperor...’ Mu Chen could hardly believe his ears. Although he had never heard of the Calamity Emperor, there was only one kind of person who could use the title of Great Emperor! A Martial Emperor!

’The person who created this Tower of Calamity was a Martial Emperor Strong Person! This...’

’The rumors really were true...’

Mu Chen gave a wry smile inwardly and asked, "Does that mean this trial is for some kind of inheritance?"

The old man nodded. "It is indeed for an inheritance. However, this inheritance may not be as powerful as you imagine. Are you still willing to receive it?"

Mu Chen was taken aback. This was the most peculiar offer of an inheritance he had ever heard. Usually, people would first boast about the advantages of their inheritance, but this old man began by saying it wasn’t as powerful as one might think. ’But clearing the Tower of Calamity is so demanding and difficult. Could the final inheritance really be that unimpressive? Is he being humble, or is this another test?’ Mu Chen pondered deeply.

After a moment of thought, Mu Chen spoke, "Senior, could you tell me what kind of inheritance this is?"

The old man shook his head. "No. My true self once said that if the challenger who passes sincerely seeks the inheritance, then they shall be told what it is. But if they are not sincere, or if they are afraid of something, then there is no need for them to receive it. Of course, if I tell you what the inheritance is, you must accept it. Otherwise, the consequences will be... troublesome."

"This..."

Frowning, Mu Chen thought, ’Master, what should I do?’

The Profound Old Ghost mulled it over for a moment before replying, "Judging by the difficulty of the Tower of Calamity that you’ve described, this inheritance can’t be simple. Otherwise, the tower’s creator would never have set up trials that are almost impossible for anyone to pass. So, you might as well agree to accept it. Even if the inheritance conflicts with your own power later, your Master has ways to extract it."

Hearing the Profound Old Ghost’s words, Mu Chen was finally relieved. With a small smile, he said resolutely, "Then please tell me what the inheritance is, Senior. No matter what it is, I am willing to receive it."

Hearing Mu Chen’s words and seeing the resolve in his eyes, the green-haired old man’s expression softened. He said slowly, "This inheritance is..." As he spoke, the green-haired old man waved his withered fingertips. A streak of light flashed, and his body instantly grew more ethereal. But when his body reached a certain degree of transparency, a complete network of meridians appeared within him.

Seeing this, Mu Chen’s mouth fell open. "This is..."

"An Emperor Vein inheritance! It’s actually an Emperor Vein inheritance!" Before Mu Chen could even ask his question, the Profound Old Ghost’s exclamation rang out in his mind. The cry was so powerful it made Mu Chen feel dizzy. Seemingly realizing he had lost his composure, the Profound Old Ghost reined in his aura and said with delight, "What a great opportunity! This is a truly great opportunity! This is a complete Emperor Vein!"

"The Calamity Emperor Vein inheritance... it is not a powerful force in itself, but accepting it will allow you to grow into a strong person." The old man’s voice grew even more weathered and hoarse, as if he were on the verge of death. "Little one, are you ready to inherit the bloodline of the Calamity Emperor?"

"A bloodline inheritance?!"