Chapter 167 - 32: Old Ghost

Qu Hua spread his hands and said, "A Spirit Nurturing Inheritance is great and all, but I’m from the Strange Ability Class. I can’t integrate other Inheritances.

Besides, it’s not without its downsides.

When you gain a lifetime of someone’s comprehension, you also absorb a portion of their memories.

Many people are affected by this.

Some even undergo drastic personality changes. More importantly, while it doesn’t affect your potential...

...the other person’s cultivation comprehension will have a profound impact on your own. Because of that, it’s not so easy to surpass the original Inheritor’s achievements later on.

Otherwise, why do you think Spirit Nurturing Beads completely replaced Spirit Nurturing Inheritances? Isn’t it better to accept a person’s entire lifetime of comprehension all at once and rapidly advance your Cultivation?

Why would anyone insist on breaking it all down, piece by piece, to learn the Techniques one by one?

But for this particular Inheritance, those downsides are a problem for the future.

After all, of all the Inheritances here, only the one from that Three Talents Great Cultivator is probably still viable.

The Three Talents Stage is an incredibly high level of Cultivation. You can worry about finding a solution for these downsides much, much later."

Hearing this, the others looked toward the circular platform in the center of the attic.

They were all somewhat skeptical of Qu Hua’s words.

But his final trump card was just too powerful, the temptation too strong.

The Inheritance of a Three Talents Great Cultivator, and a harmless one at that—who could resist?

Zhang Deming’s brow furrowed slightly. ’This Qu Hua has been playing the part of a sickly weakling, but his mind is sharp as a tack.’

’He’s never been a simple character. Would he really be kind enough to explain all this to them just because it’s useless to him?’

’Hand them a heaven-sent opportunity for free?’

’As if anyone would believe that!’

In any case, Zhang Deming didn’t believe a single word. He wasn’t the least bit interested in that so-called Inheritance.

As the others struggled internally, certain thoughts began to overwhelm their reason.

The chance to leap into the Three Talents Stage in a single bound was a temptation that defied logic.

It was a temptation that every Cultivator who had struggled bitterly at the bottom could deeply understand, especially for Apprentices with Low-Level Cultivation like them.

But before anyone could act, the entire attic—and even the whole island—suddenly began to shake. This was due to a surge of Energy on the second floor, caused by Zhang Deming’s earlier theft of the Cultivation Technique.

The light shields on the circular platforms before them flickered unstably.

Because of the shaking, some of the skeletons still on the platforms fell apart, instantly turning into piles of ash.

Only the middle-aged man on the central platform remained intact, perfectly preserved, waiting for an Inheritor. However, the light shield around his platform was also flickering violently.

Qu Hua stared at the shaking attic, a look of confusion on his face.

Just then, the vibrations seemed to trigger something in Li Shifan. His expression changed, and an ethereal Scroll materialized in his palm.

In that instant, Li Shifan seemed to lose his footing. He staggered and, just as he was about to fall, grabbed Zhang Deming’s hand.

Before Zhang Deming could react, the Li Family Ancestor’s voice echoed in both their minds:

"What in the world are you two brats up to?

The Tai Chi Demon Beast wasn’t enough for you? With your pathetic Cultivation, you’re just going to wander around in front of an old ghost like this? Do you have a death wish?

A Three Talents Great Cultivator, even on the verge of death... hell, even a fart from him could kill you from a distance! Find a chance and get out of here, now."

At that moment, the shaking of the attic subsided and gradually stopped. The light shield around the middle-aged man’s platform pulsed faintly once more, then stabilized.

The Li Family Ancestor’s voice paused as if he had discovered something. He continued, "Holy crap, why is there Demon Qi, too?

Scram! This place is way too deep for you!

I wouldn’t even dare get involved myself. With your meager Cultivation, he could swallow you whole and not even spit out a bone.

In the corner to the right, there should be an exit Array hub. Act when the opportunity arises!"

’An old ghost?’

’A Three Talents Cultivator?’

’On the verge of death?’

’Doesn’t that mean he’s not actually dead?’

Hearing this, a chill ran down Zhang Deming’s spine.

All his previous suspicions suddenly clicked into place.

’So, this old ghost used the assessment outside to lure people in?’

’What does he want?’

’Possession?’

’Right, what happened to the original inhabitants of this place?’

’Everything we’ve seen on the way here was undamaged. It doesn’t look like a family fallen on hard times; even the Arrays are all still operational.’

’So where did the original inhabitants go?’

Prompted by the Li Family Ancestor, Zhang Deming instantly connected the numerous clues.

It was highly likely, then, that all of this was the doing of the so-called dead, humanoid corpse offering the Inheritance right in front of him.

’A Three Talents Great Cultivator, huh?’

’Hmm, if this is all a conspiracy, then the source of the information about the ruins outside...?’

Zhang Deming’s gaze instantly snapped to Qu Hua. Just then, Qu Hua’s brow was slightly furrowed, and wisps of black smoke drifted from his body as he seemed to be investigating the cause of the attic’s shaking.

’Right, we were "forced" through the trials, bit by bit. Does that mean the enemy doesn’t have complete control over this place?’

’After all, I’m pretty sure they need the rewards from the round table—that Wandering Soul Mist that wasn’t completely spat out.’

’Extrapolating from that, it means this isn’t their clan’s territory.’

’They’re just usurpers who can only partially influence this ruined Secret Realm, without having full control?’

’If that’s the case, then there’s still hope for me to escape.’

Li Shifan silently let go of Zhang Deming’s hand and steadied himself. The Scroll in his palm had already vanished.

The two exchanged a subtle glance, not daring to make a rash move.

Qu Hua investigated for a long while but found nothing unusual. By this point, the shaking had completely stopped.