The old Gu Immortal's eyelids twitched. Combining this with the guess that had long formed in his heart, he spoke: "So it turns out the esteemed one is the Green Ant Recluse. Your esteemed wife must be the Immortal Maiden Wine-Turning?"
The Gu Immortal's will nodded. "That is correct."
The old Gu Immortal exhaled a turbid breath. "To be honest with you, this junior is the Drunken Immortal Elder of the Eastern Sea. More than a million years have passed since you two passed away."
The Green Ant Recluse's will paused briefly, then sighed. "So much time has passed… To prevent that wicked disciple from plundering our inheritance, my wife and I concealed it in the most hidden manner imaginable. Who would have thought it would backfire? That wicked disciple—he must be long dead by now?"
After a pause, the Green Ant Recluse's will recalled something and said: "Wait. Drunken Immortal Elder, lower your defenses and let me verify whether you're lying. How do I know you're not one of that wicked disciple's subordinates, here to deceive this old man?"
The Drunken Immortal Elder hesitated for a moment, but restrained the urge to strike directly. The arrangements here gave him no confidence in winning a fight.
He told the truth: "Whether Wu Shuai is truly dead or not, I'm not entirely certain. The situation is as follows…"
The Drunken Immortal Elder quickly explained the current state of affairs. The Green Ant Recluse's will was stunned again and again. How had the world become like this?
Was this still the Heavenly Court?
Even Fate Gu had been destroyed!
Fang Yuan!
Unimaginable—an existence of such monstrous evil had appeared in the world. This was truly a calamity for all living beings.
It took the Green Ant Recluse's will a long time to accept this reality.
"I never expected that after a million years, the world would become like this. Fate Gu is destroyed, and Dragon Master has fallen! Whether Wu Shuai is my wicked disciple reborn or Fang Yuan's clone—it no longer matters. Since it is this Fang Yuan who has inherited the Dragon Palace, he must bear this karmic debt!" The Green Ant Recluse's will was resolute.
"Then, Drunken Immortal Elder—are you willing to go against Fang Yuan for this true inheritance?" The Green Ant will asked at last.
The Drunken Immortal Elder was silent for a long time before finally taking a deep breath and clenching his teeth. "This junior is willing!"
"Good. Then let us first establish a pact."
Following the Green Ant will's instructions, the Drunken Immortal Elder swore an oath.
"Accept this inheritance. Within it is the killer move my wife and I devoted all our effort to deduce and create—Golden Cup Intoxication!"
"The golden cup sinks the green ants, and intoxication drains the dragon's qi! The Legion Ants were created by me. These ants have one weakness, one I concealed so deeply that my wicked disciple never learned of it."
"As long as this Golden Cup Intoxication killer move is deployed, it will throw the Legion Ants into chaos, causing them to devour their own master. More importantly, this is a Path of Food killer move—ordinary people will find it nearly impossible to guard against!"
"So the esteemed one was already prepared." A glint of sharp light flashed through the Drunken Immortal Elder's eyes before vanishing. "We cannot stay here long. I humbly ask the esteemed one's will to enter my immortal aperture. We can discuss everything in detail at leisure."
"Very well." The Green Ant will flew into the Drunken Immortal Elder's immortal aperture. The latter received the entirety of the inheritance and immediately withdrew.
The Drunken Immortal Elder only had time to briefly scan the contents of the inheritance before joy welled up in his heart.
This inheritance contained the Green Ant Recluse's Path of Enslavement true legacy as well as the Immortal Maiden Wine-Turning's Path of Food true legacy. The Path of Enslavement legacy held little value for the Drunken Immortal Elder, but the Wine-Turning legacy was worth a fortune.
"All my hardship has finally paid off!" A smile crept onto the Drunken Immortal Elder's lips.
But the moment he left this place and set foot in the outside world, his expression changed drastically.
A battlefield killer move had already been laid in wait, and it activated in an instant, enveloping the Drunken Immortal Elder within.
"Heavenly Court! Qin Dingling!!" The Drunken Immortal Elder discovered in horror that the ones surrounding him were Gu Immortals of the Heavenly Court.
Leading them was a female immortal with a high-bridged nose, narrow eyes and lips, clad in golden armor, long legs draped with a white cape. Her bearing was noble and inviolable.
It was none other than the current leader of the Heavenly Court—a Path of Luck Eighth Transformation powerhouse, Qin Dingling!
The Drunken Immortal Elder's heart plummeted to the bottom of his stomach. Cold sweat poured from his body without cease. "This time, my life is truly forfeit."
A thought flashed through his mind. The Drunken Immortal Elder clenched his teeth and cupped his fists. "I am willing to surrender the entire inheritance as my contribution to the Righteous Path."
Qin Dingling laughed brightly, her voice carrying a heroic air. "The legacies of the Green Ant Recluse and the Immortal Maiden Wine-Turning are fine things, but does the Heavenly Court strike you as covetous? We have been the foremost power of the Righteous Path for over three million years—the supreme superpower under heaven. Since you were fated to encounter this inheritance, it is yours. If you'd do us the honor, sit down and have a cup of tea."
As she spoke, Qin Dingling hovered in a seated position, then produced a meditation cushion, a tea table, and cups.
The Drunken Immortal Elder steeled himself and sat down. Qin Dingling personally poured him tea.
The fragrance of tea filled the air, but in his heart the Drunken Immortal Elder was as cold as ice. His entire body trembled slightly, and the cold sweat only increased.
What manner of person was Qin Dingling? And yet she was treating the Drunken Immortal Elder—an independent cultivator from the Eastern Sea—with such courtesy! Such lavish respect meant her intentions were far from trivial.
"Please, drink." Qin Dingling extended her hand with a smile, gesturing for him to proceed.
The Drunken Immortal Elder braced himself, took a single sip, then immediately set the cup down. He forced himself to stay calm and asked: "I wonder what guidance Lady Qin Dingling has for me?"
The smile at the corners of Qin Dingling's mouth widened by another fraction.
She spoke in measured tones: "You've already guessed my purpose, haven't you? You are a clever man, Drunken Immortal Elder."
"You need not be so pessimistic. Although the current balance of power in the world favors the Demonic Path and the Righteous Path is in decline, this is only temporary. Looking back across millions of years of history, for the vast majority of that time the Righteous Path has held the upper hand, while the Demonic Path could only survive in the shadows. These are extraordinary times, and so there are always certain aberrations causing havoc. But no matter how brazen and overbearing such people may appear, they are merely forerunners—clearing the path for those who will rule."