Within the Sumeru Palace Mini World.

The entire domain was draped in white mourning.

Sumeru Palace, as the Holy Land of this Small World, was filled with fluttering spirit-banners, stark white as far as the eye could see.

But at this very moment, there was not the slightest sound of weeping; there was only rage forcibly suppressed, and that terrifying Ninth Tier pressure.

The Sumeru Palace Vice Palace Master Zhang Fei was deathly pale, blood still at the corner of his mouth. He slumped on the ground, glaring furiously at Tianyang Star Lord in his crimson robe.

The Sumeru Palace little Palace Master Luo Haoyue still had tear stains at the corners of her eyes as she glared at Tianyang Star Lord.

"Tianyang Star Lord, my father died saving you, and his bones have yet to be recovered. Now you actually come to seize our inheritance by force—what logic is that? Are you not afraid of being laughed at by the world?" Haoyue’s white clothes were stained with dust; she was unable to stand up under Tianyang Star Lord’s terrifying pressure, yet she still lifted her delicate chin, grinding her silver teeth to the point of breaking, refusing to submit."

Tianyang Star Lord only let out a long sigh. "Niece Haoyue, why is it you just won’t believe? When Brother Luo fell in battle, he left last words to this seat, in order to prevent Sumeru Palace’s inheritance from being severed, and to prevent Sumeru Palace’s inheritance from falling into villainous hands.

He asked me to guard Sumeru Palace for one full cycle of sixty years, until the next generation Palace Master of Sumeru Palace breaks through to the Ninth Tier.

Look, I even have the Token Brother Luo gave me. How can you still refuse to believe?"

"Tianyang Star Lord, stop lying! Even if my father asked you to guard Sumeru Palace, he could not possibly have told me to hand Sumeru Palace’s inheritance over to you." Haoyue said angrily.

"Ai!"

Tianyang Star Lord sighed again. "Brother Luo’s Token is here. If you still won’t believe, then there is nothing more I can do.

But in all my life, what I value most is a promise. Once given, not even ten thousand gold can buy it back.

I agreed to Brother Luo’s dying wish: to guard Sumeru Palace for him, to guard Sumeru Palace’s inheritance for him for one full cycle.

I must see it done.

If you still insist on obstructing me, then even though you are Brother Luo’s daughter, do not blame me for using harsh methods!"

"Utterly laughable! The first thing you do to ’guard Sumeru Palace’ for my father is to cut down his only daughter? If word of that spreads, are you not afraid the world will laugh their teeth out?" Haoyue sneered coldly.

"Niece Haoyue, you misspoke calling yourself my niece!

You are Brother Luo’s only bloodline. How could I possibly kill you?

But in order to fulfill Brother Luo’s last wish, I will take you to my cultivation treasure land to undergo bitter cultivation. I will watch over you cultivating day and night, for a full cycle.

Of course, within this cycle, if you can break through to the Ninth Tier, you may come out early to take charge of Sumeru Palace." Tianyang Star Lord said.

Haoyue grew even angrier at this, and was about to curse again, when the heavily injured Vice Palace Master Zhang Fei lightly tugged at her sleeve. After transmitting a single sentence by sound, he made Fairy Haoyue’s eyes flash with terror.

"Star Lord, please...do not be angry! The Palace Master came to rescue Star Lord, and Star Lord has come to guard Sumeru Palace. This is a fine tale to be praised. Niece Haoyue does not understand and has been rude; I beg Star Lord not to hold it against her." Zhang Fei said in Perfection.

"Hehe, this is but the duty of a friend. Brother Luo died to save me; his last wish I will carry out completely."

"Is there such ’duty’ in this world as this..."

Haoyue shouted in fury, but was silenced by a glance from Zhang Fei.

Then, Vice Palace Master Zhang Fei struggled to his feet and looked at the gathered Sumeru Palace Disciples, his gaze desolate.

This time, Sumeru Palace had come out of the mountains and suffered disastrous losses.

Of seven Direct Disciples, aside from Zong Yan who had remained behind to guard, all the others had fallen one after another earlier; of the Eighth Tier elders, three had died in the process of rescuing the Sumeru Palace Master.

There had originally been one more, but on the way back he had died a bizarre death.

In the entire Sumeru Palace, at present there was only a single Eighth Tier—him—and a bit over ten Seventh Tier Disciples. The little Palace Master Haoyue had only barely reached the Sixth Tier and was unable to hold up Sumeru Palace.

According to the arrangements the Sumeru Palace Master sent him before his death, from here on, Sumeru Palace would seal itself off, focus on development and secluded cultivation, and there was no fear the inheritance would be cut off.

Haoyue’s talent was astonishing; after reaching the Eighth Tier, she would be among the very top even in this era and would surely be able to support Sumeru Palace in the future.

He had followed the emergency message the Sumeru Palace Master sent before his death and brought the sect members back, intending next to seal Sumeru Palace.

He had not expected Tianyang Star Lord to break in.

The entire Sumeru Small World had already sealed its Star Gate. Under normal circumstances, even a Ninth Tier wanting to force their way in would have to expend a great deal of effort.

They would at least have time to prepare.

Sumeru Palace was their main base, and moreover the land of their inheritance.

Who could have thought that right in the middle of the funeral, this Ninth Tier Expert Tianyang Star Lord would slip in like a Water Spirit, without the slightest obstruction.

Catching them completely off guard.

As for any so-called last wishes or last orders?

Only a ghost would believe them!

When the Palace Master died in battle, it had been at a hair’s breadth; he had not even had time to leave words for his own daughter, and could only entrust a single dying command to him, the Vice Palace Master.

Where would Tianyang Star Lord’s share have come from?

But now circumstances were stronger than men; whether they believed or not, they had to believe.

"All Disciples, follow me in thanking Tianyang Star Lord for his great righteousness!" With a long sigh in his heart, Vice Palace Master Zhang Fei led the Disciples, dragging Haoyue, and forced them all to kneel and kowtow to Tianyang Star Lord in thanks.

Haoyue was forced down to kowtow; her silver teeth were about to shatter, her mouth filled with the taste of blood.

Tianyang Star Lord narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched all this, nodding in satisfaction. This title, at least, was now fixed.

Even if this matter came to light in the future, it would not be much of a problem.

He only needed a bit of face; as for a few stains on his name, he did not fear them in the least.

So long as he became strong enough, in time, others would naturally step forward to argue the Dao and clear his name.

"May I ask, Star Lord, in the dying command the Palace Master arranged, how exactly did he ask Star Lord to take care of my Sumeru Palace?" Vice Palace Master Zhang Fei remained kneeling ramrod straight, and in front of everyone, asked directly.

This was the key.

"First, to prevent any loss of Sumeru Palace’s inheritance, all related inheritances of your Sumeru Palace must be handed over to this seat for supervision and safekeeping."

"No problem. The little Palace Master will be more than willing to hand the inheritance over to Star Lord for safekeeping." Zhang Fei said.